The Dark House - A Knot Unravelled

THE

DAKK HOUSE

A KNOT UNRAVELED.

BY

G. MANVILLE FENN,

HOR OF "The Parson o' Dumford, " « The Rosery Folk,
"Eli*s Children," "The Vicar's People," "Dutch

THE Diver, " " Poverty Corner, " etc *

NEW YORK

JOHN W. LOVELL COMPANY

Wi WoBTH Street, corner Mission Place

CONTENTS.

CHAP.

I. — No. 9A, Albemarle Square - - - - 7

II.— The Dead Man's Relatives - - - - 15

III.— One Guardian of the Treasure - - 21

IV.— The Lawyer's Tin Box ----- 28

V. — The Reading of the Will - - - - 33

VI. — A Fit of Generosity 40

VII.— Lying in State 44

VIIL— The Horrors of a Morn - - - - 54

IX. — Another Discovery 59

X.—" Why, Doctor, He's Dead ! " - - - - 66

XL— The Treasure 70

XII. — The End of the Instructions - - - 76

XIIL— The Young Doctor 81

XIV.— A Clever Diplomatist S6

XV. — In the Dark 91

XVI.— "You Here!" 96

XVII.— The Tenth Night 100

XVIII. — Nocturnal Proceedings 104

XIX. — Birds of Prey 108

XX,— Asleep or Awake H2

XXL— What The Sound Was ... - 115

XXIL — A Blank Adventure - . - • . 120

VI

CONTENTS.

CHAP.

XXIII.— Waiting for Breakfast

XXIV. — Doctor and Nurse

XXV.— High Words
XXVI. — Capel's Nurses
XXVII. — An Encounter

XXVIII. — Mr. Preenham's Visitor

XXIX.— The Party Breaks Up

XXX. — Where the Treasure Lay

rAGE.

127
130

J39

H3
149

154

157
164

THE DARK

A KNOT UNRAVELED.

W

CHAPTER I.

NO. 9A, ALBEMARLE SQUARE.

ONT drink our sherry, Charles?

Mr. Preenhairi; the butler, stood by the

table in the gloomy servants' hall, as jf he had re-
ceived a shock.

" No, sir ; I took *em up the beer at first, and
they shook their heads and asked for wine, and
when I took 'em the sherry they shook their heads
again, and the one who speaks English said they
want key-aunty."

"Well, all I have got to say," exclaimed the
portly cook, " is, that if I had known what was
going to take place, I wouldn't have stopped an'
hour after the old man died. It's wicked ! And
something awful will happen, as sure as my name's
Thompson. "

" Don't say that, Mrs. Thompson," said the
mild-looking butler. " It is very dreadful,
though. "

8 THE DARK HOUSE.

"Dreadful isn't the word. Are we ancient
Egyptians ? I declare, ever since them High-
talians have been in the house, going about lilr^
three dark conspirators in a play, IVe had the
creeps. I say, it didn't ought to be allowed."

" What am I to say to them, sir ?" said the foot-
man, a strongly built man, with shifty eyes and
quickly twitching lips.

"Well, look here, Charles," said the butler,
slowly wiping his mouth with his hand, " We have
no Chianti wine. You must take them a bottle of
Chambertin."

" My !" ejaculated cook.

" Chambertin, sir?"

." It's Mr. Girtle's orders. TheyVe come here
straight from Paris on purpose, and they are to
have everything they want. **

The butler left the gloomy room, and Mrs.
Thompson, a stout lady, who moved only when
she was obliged, turned to the thin, elderly house-
maid.

" Mark my words, Ann," she said. " It's con-
tr'y to nature, and it'll bring a curse. "

"Well," said the woman, "it can't make the
house more dull than it has been. "

" I don't know," said the cook.

" I never see a house before where there was no
need to shut the shutters and pull down the blinds
because some one's dead,

" Well, it is a gloomy place, Ann, but we've

NO. 9A, ALBEMARLE SQUARE. 9

done all these years most as we liked. One meal
a day and the rest at his club, and never any com-
pany. There ain't many places like that. "

*' No," sighed Ann. *' I suppose we shall all

have to go."

" Oh, I don't know, my dear. Mr. Ramo says
he thinks master's left all his money to his great
nephew, Mr. Capel, and may be he'll have the
house painted up and the rooms cleaned, and keep
lots of company. An' he may marry this Miss
Dungeon — ain't her name ?"

*' D'E-n-g-h-i-e-n," said the housemaid, spelling
it slowly. " I don't know what you call it. She's
very handsome, but so orty. I like Miss Lawrence.

Only to think, master never seeing a soul, and liv-
ing all these years in this great shut-up-house, and
then, as soon as the breath's out of his body, afi
these relatives turning up."

" Where the carcase is, there the eagles are
gathered together," said cook, solemnly.

" Oh. don't talk like that, cook.

"You're not obliged to listen, my dear," said
cook, rubbing her knees gently.

" I declare, it's been grievous to me," continued
the housemaid, " all those beautiful rooms, full of
splendid furniture, and one not allowed to do more
than keep 'em just clean. Not a blind drawn up,
or a window opened. It's always been as if there
was a funeral in the house. Think master was
crossed in love?"

lO THE DARK HOUSE.

" No. Not he. Mr. Ramo said that master
was twice over married to great Indian princesses,
abroad. I s'pose they left him all their money.
Oh, here is Mr. Ramo!"

The door had opened, and a tall, thin old
Hindoo, with piercing dark eyes and wrinkled
brown face, came softly in. He was dressed in a
long, dark, red silken cassock, that seemed as if
woven in one piece, and fitted his spare form
rather closely from neck to heel; a white cloth
girdle was tied round his waist, and for sole orna-
ment there were a couple of plain gold rings in his
ears.

As he entered he raised his thin, largely-veined
brown hands to his closely-cropped head, half
making the native salaam, and then, said in good
English :

" Mr. Preenham not here ?

tt

"Hell be back direcly, Mr. Ramo," said the
cook. " There, there, do sit down, you look worn
out/'

The Hindoo shook his head and walked to the
window, which looked out into an inner area.

At that moment the butler entered, and the
Hindoo turned to him quickly, and laid his hand
upon his arm.

"There, there, don't fret about it, Mr. Ramo,"
said the butler. " It's what we must all come to

■some day.

if

NO. 9A, ALBEMARLE SQUARE. II

" Yes, but this, this," said the Hindoo, in a low,

tj

excited voice. " Is — is it right?

The butler was silent for a few moments.

" Well, " he said at last, " it's right, and its wrong,
as you may say. It*s master's own orders, for
there it was in his own handwriting in his desk.
* Instructions for my solicitor/ Mr. Girtle showed
it me, being an old family servant. "

" Yes, yes — he showed it to me."

"Oh, it was all there," continued the butler.
" Well, as I was saying, it*s right so far; but it's
wrong, because it's not like a Christian burial."

" No, no," cried the Hindoo, excitedly. " Those
men — they make me mad. I cannot bear it.
Look!" he cried, *' he should have died out in my
country, where we would have laid him on sweet
scented woods, and baskets of spices and gums,
and there, where the "sun shines and the palm trees
wave, I, his old servant, would have fired the pile,
and he would have risen up in the clouds of smoke,
and among the pure clear flames of fire, till nothing
but the ashes was left. Yes, yes, that would have
been his end," he cried, with flashing eyes, as he
seemed to mentally pictufe the scene; " and then
thy servant could have died with thee. Oh, Sahib,
Sahib, Sahib!"

He clasped his hands together, the fire died
from his eyes, which became suffused with tears,
and as he uttered the last word thrice in a low

12 THE DARK HOUSE.

moaning voice, he stood rocking himself to and
fro.

The two women looked horrified and shuddered,
but the piteous grief was magnetic, and in the deep
silence that fell they began to sob; while the butler
blew his nose softly, coughed, and at last laid his
hand upon the old servant's shoulder.

"Shake hands, Mr. Ramo," he said huskily.
" Fifteen years you and me's been together, and
if we haven't hit it as we might, well, it was only
natural, me being an Englishman and you almost
a black; but it*s this as brings us all together,
natives and furrencrs, and all. He was a good
master, God bless him! and Tm sorry he's gone. "

The old Indian looked up at him half wonder
ingly for a few moments. Then, taking the ex^
tended hand in both of his, he held it for a time,
and pressed it to his heart, dropped it, and turned
to go.

*' Won't you take something, Mr, Ramo?"

** No — no ! " said the Indian, shaking his head,
and he glided softly out of the servants* hall, went
silently, in his soft yellow leather slippers, down a
long passage and up a flight of stone stairs, to pass
through a glass door, and stand in the large gloomy
hall, in the middle of one of the marble squares
that turned the floor into a vast chess-board, round
which the giant pieces seemed to be waiting to
commence the game.

For the faint light that came through the thick

NO. 9A, ALBEMARLE SQUARE. 13

ground glass fanlight over the great double doois
was diffused among black bronze statues and white
marble figues of Greek and Roman knights. In
one place, seated meditatively, with hands resting
upon the knees, there was an Indian god, seeming
to watch the floor. In another, a great Japanese
warrior, while towards the bottom of the great
winding staircase, whose stone steps were covered
y/ith heavy dark carpet, was a marble, that imagin-
ation might easily have taken for a queen.

Here and there the paneled walls were orna-
mented with* stands of Indian arms and armour,
conical helmets, once worn by Eastern chiefs, with
pendent curtains, and suits of chain mail. Blood-
thirsty daggers, curved scimitars, spears, clumsy
matchlocks, and long straight swords, whose hilt
was an iron gauntlet, in which the warrior's fingers
were laced as they grasped a handle placed at right
angles to the blade, after the fashion of a spade.
There were shields, too, and bows and arrows, and
tulwars and koorkrees, any number of warlike im-
plements from the East, while beside the statues,
the West had to show some curious chairs, and a
full-length portrait of an Englishman in the prime
of life — a handsome, bold-faced man, in the uni-
lorm o( one of John Company's regiments, his
helmet in his hand, and his breast adorned with
orders and jewels of foreign make.

The old Indian servant stood there like one of
the statues, as the dining-room door opened and

14 THE DARK HOUSE.

three dark, closely-shaven and moustached men, in
black, came out softly, and went silently up the
stairs.

There was something singularly furtive and
strange about them as they followed one another in
silence, all three alike in their dress coats and
turned-down white collars, beneath which was a
narrow strip of ribbon, knotted in front.

They passed on and on up the great winding
stairs, past the drawing-room, from whence came
the low buzz of voices, to a door at the back of the
house, beside a great stained glass window, whose
weird lights shone down upon a lion-skin rug.

Here the first man stopped for his companions
to reach his side. Then, whispering a few words
to them, he took a key from his pocket, opened the
door, withdrew the key, and entered the darkened
room, closing and locking the door, as the old
Indian crept softly up, sank upon his knees upon
the skin rug, his hands clasped, his head bent down,
and resting against the panels of the door.

CHAPTER n.

THE DEAD MAN'S RELATIVES.

rCAN tell you very little, Mr. Capel. I have
been your great uncle's confidential solicitor
ever since he returned from India. I was a mere
boy when he went away. He knew me then, and
when he came back he sought me out. "

" And that is twenty-five years ago, Mr. Girtle?"

" Yes. The year you were born

" And he made you his confidant?"

" Yes; he gave me his confidence, as far as I

think he gave it to any man. "

" And did he always live in this way?"
" Always. He filled up the house with the vast
collection of curiosities and things that he had been
sending home for years, and I expected that he
would entertain, and lead the life of an English
gentleman; but no, the house has been closed for
twenty-five years."

Mr. Girtle, a clean-shaven old gentleman, with
yellow face, dark, restless eyes and bright grey
hair, took a pinch of snuff from a handsome gold
box, flicked a few grains from his white shirt-front,
and said "Hah."

" Had my uncle met with any great disappoint-
ment?" said the first speaker, a frank-looking man
with closely curling brown hair, and a high, white
forehead.

^5

1 6 THE DARK HOUSE.

" What, to make him take to this strange life ?
Oh, no. He was peculiar, but not unhappy. He
liked to be alone, but he was always bright and
cheerful at his club."

" You met him there, then? " said a fresh voice,
and a handsome, dark young fellow, who had been
leaning back in an easy chair in the dim drawing-
room, sat up quickly, playing with his little black
moustache.

" Oh, yes! I used to dine with Colonel Capel
when we had business to transact. "

" But, here you say he led the life of a miser! "
continued the young man, crossing his legs, and
examining the toe of his patent leather boot.

" I beg your pardon, Mr. Gerard Artis, I did not
say that. Your great uncle was no miser. He
spent money freely, sometimes, in charities. Yes,"
he continued, turning to where two ladies were
seated. " Colonel Capel was often very charitable."

" I never saw his name in any charitable list,"
said the darker of the two ladies, speaking in a
sweet, silvery voice ; and her beautiful regular
features seemed to attract both the previous
speakers.

" No, Miss D'Enghien, I suppose not," said the
old man, nodding his head and rising to begin
walking up and down, snuff-box in hand. " Neither
did I. But he was very charitable in his own par-
ticular way, and he was very kind."

" Yes, "said the young man who had first spoken;

THE DEAD MAN'S RELATIVES. 1 7

" very kind. I have him to thank for my school
and college education. "

" Well — yes," said the old lawyer ; " I suppose it
is no breach of confidence to say that it is so. "
" And I have to thank him for mine, and the

pleasant life I have led, Mr. Girtle, have I not ? "
said the second of the ladies ; and, but for the
gloom, the flush that came into her sweet face
would have been plainly visible.

1

At that moment the footman entered with a
letter upon a massive salver, and as he walked
straight to the old lawyer, he cast quick, furtive
glances at the other occupants of the room.

" A note, eh? " said the old solicitor, balancing
his gold-rimmed glasses upon his nose; " um
um — yes, exactly — very delicate of them to write.
Tell them I will see them shortly, Charles. "

The footman bowed, and was retiring as silently
as he came over the soft carpet, when he was
checked by the old solicitor.

" You will tell Mr. Preenham to see that these
gentlemen have every attention."

"Yes sir."

The footman left the room almost without a
sound, for the door was opened and closed noise-
lessly. The only thing that broke the terrible
silence that seemed to reign was the faint clink of
the silver tray against one of the metal buttons
of the man's coat. As for the magnificently furn-
ished room, with its heavy curtains and drawn-

1 8 THE DARK HOUSE.

down blinds, it seemed to have grown darker, so
that the faint gleams of light that had hung in a
dull way on the faces of the great mirrors and the
gilded carving of console and cheffonier, had died
out. It required no great effort of the imagination
to believe that the influence of the dead man who
had passed so many solitary years in that shut-up
house was still among them, making itself felt with
a weight from which they could not free them-
selves.

Paul Capel looked across at the beautiful face of
Katrine D'Enghien, thinking of her Creole extrac-
tion, and the half French, half American father
who had married his relative. He expected to see
her looking agitated as her cousin, Lydia Lawrence,
but she sat back with one arm gracefully hanging
over the side of the chair, her lustrous eyes half
closed, and a pang strongly akin to jealousy shot
through him as it seemed that those eyes were rest-
ing on the young elegant at his side.

" Yes,'* said the old solicitor, suddenly, and his
voice made all start but Miss D'Enghien, who did
not even move her eyelids; " as I was saying," he
went on, tapping his snuff-box, " I can tell you very
little, Mr. Capel, until the will is read."

it

Then there is a will ? " said Miss D'Enehien.

The old lawyer's brows wrinkled, as he glanced
at her in surprise.

" Yes, my dear young lady, there is a will./"

THE DEAD MAN'S RELATIVES. I9

" And it will be read, of course, directly after
the funeral ? " said the dark young man.
. The lawyer did not reply.

" I suppose you think it's bad form of a man
asking such questions now; but really, Mr. Girtle,
it would be worse form for a fellow to be pulling a
long face about one he never saw. "

" But he was your father's friend. "

" Oh, yes, of course."

" Hence you. sir, are here, "continued the lawyer,
" My instructions were clear enough. I was to in-
vite you here at this painful time, and take my old
friend's place as your host. "

" You have been most kind, JVIr. Girtle, said Miss
D'Enghien.

" I thank you, madam, and I grieve that you
should have to be present at so painful a time.
My next instructions were to send for the Italian
professor, who is here, to carry out the wishes of
the deceased."

" Horrible idea for a man fo wish to be em-
balmed," said Artis, brutally.

Lydia Lawrence shuddered, and turned away
her face. Paul Gapel glanced indignantly at the
speaker, and then turned to gaze at Katrine
D'Enghein, who sat perfectly unmoved, her hand
still hanging from the side of the chair, as if to
show the graceful contour of her arm.

" Colonel Gapel had been a great part of his
life in the East, Mr. Artis," said the old lawyer.

20 THE DARK HOUSE.

coldly. " He had had the matter in his mind for
some time. "

" How do you know that?"

*' By the date on my instructions, whicl^ also

)>

contained the Italian professor's card.

" And I suppose we shall have a very eccentn'r
will, sir.'*

Yes," said the lawyer quietly, *' a very eccen
trie will.

((

it

n

Come, that's refreshing," said the young man
with a fidgetty movement. " Well, you are not
very communicative, Mr. Girtle. You family
solicitors are as close as your deed boxes. "

Yes," said the old lawyer, closing his gold
snuff-box with a loud snap.

tt

it

Well, come, it can be no breach of confidence
to tell us when the funeral is to be?"

The old lawyer took a turn or two up and down
the room, snuff-box in hand, the bright metal
glistening as he swung his hand to and fro. Then
he stopped short, ^nd said slowly:

"The successor to Colonel Capel's enormous
property will inherit under extremely peculiar
conditions, duly set forth in the will it will be my
duty to read to you.

" After the funeral?" said Gerard Artis.

" No, sir; there will be no funeral."

" No funeral!" exclaimed Artis and Paul Capel
in a breath, and then they rose to their feet,
startled more than they would have cared to own.

»»

ONE GUARDIAN OF THE TREASURE. 21

for at that moment a strange wild cry seemed
to come from the staircase, followed by a heavy
crash.

" Good Heavens!" cried the old lawyer, drop-
ping his snuff-box.

Katrine D'Enghein alone remained unmoved,
with her head turned towards the door.

CHAPTER HI.

ONE GUARDIAN OF THE TREASURE.

AUL CAPEL was the first to recover from
the surprise, and to hurry from the dark-
ened room, followed by Artis and the late Colo-
pel's 'solicitor, though it was into no blaze of light,
for the staircase was equally gloomy.

The source of the strange noise was not far to
seek, for, as they reached the landing, they became
aware that a fierce struggle was going on in the
direction of the room occupied by the late Colonel^
and hurrying there, it was to find two men locked
together, one of whom was succeeding in holding
the other down, and wresting his neck from the
sinewy hands which had torn off his white cravat.

"Why, Charles! Ramo!" exclaimed Mr. Girtle,
in the midst of the hoarse, panting sounds uttered
by the contending men.

" He's mad!" cried the former, in a high-pitched
tone, in which a man's rage was mingled with a

22 THE DARK HOUSE.

schoolboy's whimpering fear. " He's mad, sir.
He tried to strangle me,"

" Thief! dog!" panted the old Hindoo, with his
dark features convulsed with passion. " Wanted
rob — his master!"

The two young men had separated the com-
batants, who now stood up, the footman, his vest
and shirt torn open, and his coat dragged half off

the old man with one sleeve of his dark silk
robe gone, and the back rent to the waist, while
there was a fierce, vindictive look in his working-
features, as he had to be held to keep him from
closing with the footman again.

" What does this mean, Charles?" cried Mr.

Girtle, as the butler and the other 'servants came
hurrying up, while the three Italians also stood
upon the landing, looking wonderingly on.

"If you please, sir, I don't know." said the
footman, in an. ill-used tone. "I was just going
by the Colonel's door, afid I thought, as was very
natural, that I should like to see what these gen-
tlemen had done, when Mr. Ramo sprang at me
like a wild cat. "

" No, no!" cried the old Indian, whose English
in his rage and excitement was less distinct, " a
thief — come to rob — my dear lord — a thief!'*

*' I hope, sir," said the footman, growing calmer
and looking in an injured way at Mr. Girtle, " you
know me better than that, sir. Mr. Preenham

ONE GUARDIAN OF THE TREASURE. 23

here will tell you I've cleaned the plate regular all
the ten years I've been here. "

The old solicitor turned to the butler.

" Yes, sir; Charles's duty has been to clean the
plate, but it is in my charge, and I have kept the
strictest account of it. A little disposed to show
temper, sometimes, sir, but strictly honest and very
clean. '*

*' This is a very sad and unseemly business at
such a time," said Mr. Girtle. " Ramo, you have
made a mistake. "

" No, no ! " cried the old Indian, wrathfully.

"Come, come," said Mr. Girtle; "be reason-
able. "

" The police," panted the old Indian. "Send for

the police. "

" All right," cried Charles, defiantly; " send fov
the police and let *em search me."

" Silence ! " cried Mr. Girtle. " Go down and
arrange your dress, sir. Mr. Capel, young ladies,
will you return to the drawing-room ? Signori,
will you retire? That will do, Preenham. Leave
Ramo to me."

In another minute the old solicitor was left with
Ramo, who stood beneath the dim stained-glass
window, with his arms folded and his brow knit.

'* You do not trust and believe me, sir?

" Don't talk nonsense, Ramo. You know I trust
you as the most faithful fellow in the world."

He held out his hand as he spoke, but the old

24 THE DARK HOUSE.

Indian remained motionless for the moment;' then,
seizing the hand extended to him, he bent over it,
holding it to his breast.

" My dear lord's old friend," he said.

" That's better, Ramo," said Mr. Girtle. " Now,
go and change your dress."

" No, no ! " cried the old man. " I must
watch."

Nonsense, man. Don't think that every one
who comes means to rob."

" But I do," cried the old Indian, in a whisper.
" They think of what w^e know — you and I only.
Those foreign men — the servants.

i

'* You must not be so suspicious, Ramo, It will
be all right."

a

>j

*' It will not be all right, Sahib," cried the old
Indian. *' Think of what there is in yonder."

." But we have the secret, Ramo."

" Yes — yes; but suppose there were others wUo
knew the secret — who had heard of it. Sahib, I
will be faithful to the dead."

The old Indian drew himself up with dignity, and
took his place once more before the door.

" It has been shocking," whispered the Indian.
" I have b^en driven away, while those foreign men
did what they pleased in there. It was madden-
ing. Ah ! "

He clapped his hands to his head.

" What now, Ramo ? "

" Those three men! Suppose "

ONE GUARDIAN OF THE TREASURE. ^$

He caught at his companion's arm, whispered a
few words, and they entered the darkened room,
from which, as the door opened and closed, a
peculiar aromatic odor floated out.

As the door was closed the sound of a bolt being
shot inside was heard, and directly after the face of
Charles, the footman, appeared from the gloom
below. He came up the stairs rapidly, glanced
round and stepped softly to the closed door, where
he bent down, listening.

As he stood in the recess the gloom was so great
that he was almost invisible, save his face, while
just beyond him a large group in bronze, of a club-
armed centaur, seemed to have the crouching man
as part of the artist's design, tiie centaur being,
apparently, about to strike him down, while, to
give realism to the scene, a dull red glow from the
stained glass window fell across his forehead.

As he listened there, his ear to the key-hole and
his eyes watchfully wandering up and down the
staircase, a dull and smothered clang was heard as
if in the distance, like the closing of some heavy
iron door. Then there was a louder sound, with a
quick, ehort report, as if a powerful spring had been
set in motion and shot home. Then a door seemed
to be closed and locked, and the man glided quickly
over the soft, thick carpet — melting away, as it
were, in the gloom.

The door opened and, from the darkness within,
Mr. Girtle and the old Indian stepped slowly out,

26 THE DARK HOUSE.

bringing with them a soft, warm puff of the aro-
matic odor, and. as they grew more distinct in the
faint light of the stained glass window, everything
was so still in the great house that there was a
strange unreality about them, fostered by the
silence of their tread.

"There, now you are satisfied," said the old
lawyer, gently. *' Go and change your robe."

The Indian shook his head.

" I will stay till your return inside the room."

" Inside? '* said the Indian.

" Yes — why not? You and I have reached the
time of life when death has ceased to have terrors.
He is only taking the sleep that comes to all.

There was a gentle sadness in the lawyer's voice,
and then, turning the handle of the door, he opened
it and stood looking back.

"You will not be long/* he said. "They are
waiting for me in the drawing-room."

The door closed just as the old Indian made a
step forward to follow. Then he stood with his
hands clenched and eyes starting listening intently,
while the centaur's club seemed to be quivering in
the gloom, ready to crush him down.

The old man raised his hand to the door — let it
fall — raised it again — let it fall — turned to go
started back — and then, as if fighting hard with
himself, he turned once more, and with an activity
not to be expected in one of his years, bounded
up the staircase and disappeared.

ONE -GUARDIAN OF 1 HE TREASURE. 2J

Ten minutes had not elapsed before he seemed
to come silently out of the gloom acrain, and was
half-way to the door, when there was a faint creak
from below, as if from a rusty hinge.

The old man stopped short, crouching down by
the balustrade, listening, his eyes shining in the
dim twilight; but no other sound was heard, and
he rose quickly, ran softly down, and with trem-
bling hands opened the door.

Mr. Girtle came slowly out, looking sad and de-
pressed, and laid his hand upon the Indian's
shoulder.

" You mean to watch, then," he said.

The Indian nodded quickly, his eyes gazing
searchingly at the lawyer the while.

" Are you going in, or here ?"

" My place was at the Sahib's door."

"Good!** said the solititor, bowing his head;
and he returned to the drawing-room, Ramo
watching him suspiciously till the door closed.

As he stood there, the dusky tint of the robe he
now wore seemed to lend itself to the surroundino;
gloom, being almost invisible against the portal, as
he remained there with his fingers nervously quiv-
ering, and his face drawn by the agitation of his
breast.

He shook his head violently the next mome'nt,
clasped his hands together, and sank down once
more upon the lion-skin mat, bent to the very floor,
more like some rounded mass than a human being:

28 THE DARK HOUSE.

while the great centaur was indistinctly seen, with
his raised club, as if about to repeat the blow that
had crushed the old Indian into a motionless heap.

CHAPTER IV.

THE lawyer's tin BOX.

^'^'TTTHIS has been a terrible week, Katrine," said
-*- Lydia Lawrence, taking her cousin's hand.

ti

«

Do you think so? "
" Oh, yes. I have not your sang froid. I would
. give- anything to go back to the country."

" I have been curious to know all about the will.

That old man has been maddening. He might
have spoken."

But his instructions, aear. The will was to be
read after he had lain there a week. "

Lain in state," said Katrine, with a curl of her
lip. ** With a savage crouching on a lion skin at
his door like some dog. Pah! It is absurd.
More like a scent in a French play than a bit of
nineteenth century life. "

Lydia sighed.

" I felt greatly relieved when those dreadful men
had gone.

((

>)

" What, the Italian professors? Pooh ! what a

child you are. I did not mind."

Lydia gazed at her with a feeling of shrinking
wonder, and there was something almost fierce in

THE LAWYER^S TIN BOX. 29

the beautiful eyes, as Katrine sat there by one of
the tables of the ill-lit drawing-room, the two pair§
of wax candles in old fashioned silversticks seeming
to emit but a feeble light, and but for the warm
glow of the fire, the great room would have been
sombre in the extreme.

" What time is it, Lydia? There, don't start like
that. What a kitten you are. "

" You spoke so suddenly, dear. It is half-past

ten. '*

yj

" Only half-past ten. Nearly an hour and a half
before the play begins. I wish we had kept the
tea things.

" Pra,y don't speak so lightly, Katrine."

" I can't help it. It is so absurd for the old man
to have left instructions for all this meretricious
romance to surround his end. As for old Girtle,
he seems to delight in it, and goes about the house
rubbing his hands like an undertaker. "

"Katrine! "

" Well, he does. Will read at half-past eleven
at night on the tenth day after the old man's
death. It is absurd. Ah, well, I suppose a mil-
lionaire has a right to be eccentric, if he likes."

" Dear Katrine, he was always so good. "

*' Good ! Bah ! What did he ever do for me?
He hated my branch of the family, and our creole
blood. As if the D'Enghiens were not a fine old
French family before the Capels were heard of."

" But Katrine

tj

'V

O THE DARK HOUSE.

" I will Speak. I was dragged here to be present
at this mummery, to have for my share a hundred
pounds to buy mourning, and I vow I'll spend it in
Chinese mourning, and wear yellow instead of black.
Why don't those men come up instead of sitting
smoking in that dining-room and leaving us alone
in this mausoleum of a place? Here, ring, and send
for them; I'm getting nervoiis, too. I'm catching
it from you — weak little baby that you are. "

At that moment the door opened, and the two
young men entered to go up to them, both speak-
ing to Lydia, and then drawing their chairs nearer
to Katrine.

" Are you nearly ready for the play, Mr. Capel?"

she said, after a time.

" The play! " he exclaimed.

" Yes ; the curtain will rise directly. How do
yoii feel, Gerard? "

" Oh, I don't know. ■ I want to hear how many
chips the old boy has left me. Doosid glad to get
out of this tomb. I say, would you mind me light-
ing a cigar? "

" I don't mind," said Katrine, lightly.

" Would you mind, Miss Lawrence? "
Mind — your smoking — here ? " said Lydia,

tt

hastily. "I — I don't think I should, but-

»»

" No, no," said Capel; " it is impossible. For
heaven's sake, pay a little respect to the ladies, if

4

you cannot to the dead. "

Artis started to his feet.

THE lawyer's tin BOX. 3 1

"Look here, Paul Capel,'* he cried angrily; "you
have taken upon yourself several times since I have
been locked up here with you to use confoundedly
offensive language to me. How dare you speak to
me like that? "

*' Dare? " cried. Capel, rising. " Pooh! '* he ejec-
ulated, throwing himself back, and glancing at
Katrine, whose eyes seemed to flash with eager
pleasure, while Lydia half rose, with extended
hands; " I am forgetting myself."

Lydia sank back with a sigh, while Katrine's
eyes flashed, and her lip curled.

" Forgetting yourself ! " cried Artis. By Jove,
sir, you*ve done nothing else! I suppose you ex-
pect to have all the old man's money, but we shall

M

" Don't be alarmed, Miss Lawrence," said Capel,
smiUng. *' I am not going to quarrel. Ah, here
is Mr. Girtle."

The door opened, and Charles entered, with two
more Hghted candles, one in each hand, preceding
Mr. Girtle, who came in bearing a large tin deed
box. This he slowly proceeded to plac<3 upon the
carpet beside a small table, on which Charles de-
posited the candlesticks.

" I think I am punctual," said the lawyer, taking
his old gold watch from his fob, and replacing it
with a nod. Yes, nearly half past eleven. Charles,
will you summon all the servants. I think every-
one is mentioned in the will,'* he added, as Charles

$2 THE DARK HOUSE.

left the room. " You will excuse all formalities.
I am strictly obeying instructions as to time and
place. "

The old gentleman took a jingling bunch of keys
from his pocket, bent down and opened the tin
box, from which he took out a square folded parch-
ment, crossed with broad green ribbons, and bear-
ing a great seal.

This he laid upon the table before him, and sink-
ing back in his chair, proceeded to deliberately
take snuff

A dead silence reigned, and, in spite of himself,
Paul Capel felt agitated, and sought from time to
time to catch Katrine's eye; while Lydia looked
from one to the other sadly, and Gerard Artis lay

back in his chair.

The door once more opened, and the servants
filed in, led by Preenham, the butler, Ramo com-
ing last, to stand with his arms folded and his head
bent down upon his chest.

"Be seated," said Mr. Girtle; and his voice
sounded solemn and strange.

There was a rustling as the servants sat down in
a row near the door, Ramo doubling his legs be-
neath him, and crouching on the floor.

" The last will and testament of John Arthur
Capel, late Colonel in the Honourable East India
Company's Service, Special Commissioner with her
Highness the Ranee of Illahad; Resident at the
court of her Highness the Begum of Rahahbad!**

THE READING OF THE WILL. 33

So read the confidential solicitor and friend of
the deceased, in a husky voice, his gold rimmed
glasses helping him to decipher the brown writing
or endorsement of the yellow parchment. Then
he continued:

" I have followed out the instructions of the de-
ceased to the letter, so far; and now, in continu-
ance of these instructions, in your presence, I pro-
ceed to break this seal. "

CHAPTER V.

THE READING OF THE WILL.

TT7HERE was a peculiar rustle in the gloomy
^ room, a faint sound as of catching of the
breath, and above all the sharp crackle of the
broken wax as the seal was demolished, and the
green ribbon thrown aside.

Then after a prefatory Hem! the old lawyer
proceeded to read the will, which was in the cus-
tomary form, and began with a series of bequests
to the old and faithful servants of the house, in
respect of whose services, and so that there should
be no jealous feeling as to amounts, ,he left each
the sum of five hundred pounds free of duty, and
ten pounds to each to buy mourning.

" To my old and faithful servant, companion,
and friend'*— read on the solicitor — " Ramo Ali

34 THE DARK HOUSE.

Jee, two hundred and fifty pounds pef annum for
the rest of his natural life; the same to be secured
in Three-per-cent Consols, reverting at his death
as hereinafter stated. "

Ramo did not move or utter a word.

" To my old friend and adviser; Joshua Girtle,
of the Inner Temple, the plain gold signet ring on
the fourth finger of my left hand. "

Then followed a few more minor bequests, and
instructions of a very simple nature, ending one
long paragraph in the will; and as Mr. Girtle re-
moved his glasses, and proceeded deliberately to
wipe them, the servants took advantage of the
gloom where they sat to give each other a con-
gratulatory shake of the hand.

" I now come to the important bequests," said
Mr. Girtle, rebalancing his glasses in his calm de-
liberate way.

" To Katrine Leveillee D'Enghein, daughter of
my niece, Harriet D'Enghien, , formerly Capel,
the gold bangle presented to me by the Ranee,
and one hundred pounds, free of duty, to buy
mourning."

" There, what did I tell you?" said Katrine, in
a low, sweet voice, as she smiled at her com-
panions.

" To Gerard Artis, son of my cousin, William
Artis," read on Mr. Girtle, in the same monot-
onous, unmoved way; and then he stopped to

fj

THE READING OF THE WILL. 35

draw one of the candles forward in front of the
parchment.

The young man shifted his position uneasily,
and drew in his breath quickly as he thought of
the testator's immense wealth, and glanced at
Katrine.

" I shall not get all," he thought, " for he will
leave something to Paul Capel. "

Then, after what seemed an age of suspense, the
old solicitor went on :

" The sum of one hundred pounds, free of duty,
to buy mourning.

There was a death-like stillness as the lawyer
paused.

"Go on, sir, go on," cried Artis, in a harsh
voice.

" To Lydia Alicia "

" No, no, finish the bequest to me."

" I did, sir. One hundred pounds to buy
mourning. "

" What? Treat me worse than his servants ?"

" I believe, Mr. Artis, if you will excuse me,
that a testator has a perfect right to do what he
likes with his own."

"Then you influenced him," cried Artis furi-
ously. " I shall dispute the will."

The old gentleman smiled.

" Influenced my old friend to leave me his signet
ring, eh, Mr. Artis ? No, sir, the will was written
by Colonel Capel himself, and afterwards trans-

36 THE DARK HOUSE.

ferred to parchment. If you will alloA* me, I will
proceed. "

ty

9}

" I shall dispute the will, I say so at once,
cried Artis, " that there may be no mistake. One
hundred pounds each to Miss D'Enghien and my-
self ! It is absurd, paltry, pitiful.

" You never saw the testator, Mr. Artis ?"

'' No, sir.

" Neither did you, Miss D'Enghien ?"

"I? Oh, no."

" He told me himself," continued the old lawyer,
** that he had never seen cither Miss Lawrence or

f>

Mr. Paul Capel."

Lydia murmured an assent.

it

No," said Capel, who felt a curious oppression
at the chest, " I never saw my great uncle. I
never even heard from or wrote to him."

" May I ask why?"

I knew he was reported to be immensely rich,
and — well, I felt that he might think I was trying
to curry favor. "

" Let me see, Mr. Artis, I think the deceased
did pay your debts ?

(1

tj

" Is this meant for an insult, sir ?"

" No, sir ; it was a business-like defense of my
old friend's memory. To proceed :

'* To Lydia Alicia Lawrence, my grand-niece,
twenty-five thousand pounds, free of duty, the
same to be invested in Consols, and if she marries,

THE READING OF THE WILL. 37

to be secured by marriage settlements to herself

and children,"

There was a buzz of congratulation here, as
the old solicitor once more wiped his glasses and
arranged them and the candles, while, in spite of
his endeavors to preserve his calmness, Paul Capel,
the only one present yet unmentioned, felt the op-
pression increasing, and the air in the great gloomy
room seemed to have become thick and hard to
breathe.

He was as if in a dream as the lawyer went
on:

** To Paul Capel, son of my nephew, Paul
Capel, I leave my freehold house and furniture,
library, plate, pictures, statues, bronzes, and
curios, conditionally that the house be kept during
his lifetime in the same state as it is in now.

" Conditionally, also, that my body, after em-
balming, according to my instructions, be carrred
into the room leading out of my bedroom, and
placed in the iron receptacle I had specially con-
structed, without religious rite or ceremony of any
kind. I have tried to make my peace with my
Creator; to Him I leave the rest. This done, the
iron chamber to be locked in the presence of the
said Paul Capel, who shall take the key. The
doorway shall then be built up with blocks of stone
similar to those of which I had the room built, a
sufficiency of which are stored up in cellar No. 4,
sealed with my seal.

38 THE DARK HOUSE.

" And I here solemnly bind my heir and suc-
cessor to observe exactly these my commands, that
my body may rest undisturbed in my old home,
under penalty of forfeiture of the said freehold as
above named."

" He must have been mad," said Artis, in an
audible voice.

" And as I, being now in full possession of my
senses," continued Mr. Girtle, slightly raising his
voice, " know that this is a strange and arduous
burden to lay upon my heir in chief, though I
have taken such precautions that in a short time
my presence in the house may entirely be forgot-
ten, I give and bequeath to him for his sole use
and enjoyment — and in the hope that with the help
and advice of my old friend, Joshua Girtle, he will
sensibly invest, and sell and invest — the Russian
leather case containing Bank of England notes
amounting to five hundred thousand pounds."

Artis drew a long breath through his teeth;
Katrine D'Enghien leaned forward, with her beau-
tiful eyes fixed on Paul Capel; Lydia sank back
in her seat with a feeling of misery she could not

*

have explained seeming to crush her; while Paul
Capel sat now unmoved.

"And," continued the old lawyer, "the flat
silver case containing the diamonds, pearls,
rubies, and emeralds, bequeathed to me by my
mistresses, the Ranee of Illahad and Begum of
Rah^bad^ valued at one million sterling, more

THE READING OK THE WILL. 39

or less. These cases are in the steel chest in the
iron chamber in which my coffin is to be placed
when the cases are taken out, the keys of which,
and the secret of the lock, being known only to
my old friend, Joshua Girtle, whom I constitute
my sole. executor, and my old friend and servant.
Ramo, whom I commend to the care of my grand-
nephew, the said Paul Capel.

" Furthermore, the remainder of the sum of fifty
thousand pounds in Consols, after providing for
the payments hereinbefore stated as legacies, I de-
sire my executor to distribute in twenty equal sums
to as many deserving charities as he may select. "

The reading of the rest of the document occu-
pied scarcely a couple of minutes, and then the

old' solicitor rose. The servants slowly left the
room, making a detour so as to bow and courtesy to
the Colonel's heir, Ramo last — furtively watching
Charles — to go slowly to the young man's side,
bow reverently, take his hand, and kiss it. saying
softly the one word :

" Sahib. "

" Don't go, Ramo," said Mr. Girtle; and the old
Indian slowly backed into the corner by the door,
where he stood nearly invisible, waiting until such
time as he should be called upon to give up his
share of the secret of the chamber beyond the
dead man's room.

CHAFFER VL

A FIT OF GENEROSITY.

m

R. PAUL CAPEL,"said the old solicitor,
" allow me to add my congratulations,
and my hope that your fortune may prove a
blessing. "

" But it is like a -dream — a romance," cried Paul
Capel. " All that wealth here — in this house !
I wonder that he was not robbed. "

" My old friend took great precautions against
that,'* said Mr. Girtle. " As you will see, it was
impossible for any one to have stolen the valuables
and notes."

*' But ought not this money to have been
banked ?"

" Of course — or invested. I have told him so,
often ; but he used to say be preferred to keep it
as it was. He had plenty for his wants and chari-
ies. Your uncle was an eccentric man, Mr.
Capel ; there is no denying that. "

'* Eccentric !" cried Artis. " Mad. Well, I give
you all warning. I shall take action, and throw it
into chancery. "

He walked to the end of the room, and Paul
Capel looked after him uneasily as he saw Katrine
follow.

" You foolish boy! " she whispered; " am not 1
as badly used as you? Be patient. Wait."

40

f<

<(

A FIT OF GENEROSITY. 4I

* What do you mean? " he whispered, hastily.

She looked full in his eyes, and he tried to read
the mystery in their depths, but without avail.

" Why don't you speak? " he cried.
Some things are -better left unspoken," she
replied. " Don^t be rash."

" ril wait;" he whispered, " if you wish it."
I do wish it. Take no notice of what I say or
do. Promise me that."

" Promise me you will not make me jealous, and
I'll wait.

" But maybe I shall make you jealous,'* she said.
" Still, you know me. Wait."

" I'm sorry for one thing, Mr. GirtlGy" said Paul
Capel, while this was going on.

" May I ask what that is? "

" Oh, yes. Your simple bequest of a ring. Will
you — you will not be ofTended, Mr. Girtle — out of
this immense wealth allow me to make you some
suitable "

" Stop." said the old gentleman, laying his hand
upon the speaker's arm. " My old friend wished
to leave me a large sum, but I chose that ring in
preference. Thank you all the same, my deai
young friend, and I beg you will count upon me foi
help."

" Well, then, there is something I should like to
do at once. Look here, Mr. Girtle — a million and

99

a half

" With its strange burden. "

42 THE DARK HOUSE.

" Oh, I don't mind that. I want to do something
over this money. Miss Lawrence is well provided
for, but Miss D'Enghien "

" Well, you had better ms^rry her."

" Do — do you mean that? "

" No," said the old man, sternly; " I do not."

" There is Mr. Artis, too. I should like "

" To find him in funds to carry on a legal war
against you for what he would call his rights. My
dear Mr. Capel, may I, as lawyer, give you a bit of
advice? "

" Certainly; I ask it of you."

" Then wait. "

Capel drew back as the old gentleman proceeded
to fold the will and lay it with other papers in the
tin box, while Ramo, standing alone in the gloom,
with folded arms and apparently seeing nothing,
but observing every motion, hearing almost every
word, noticed that Gerard Artis was watching the
defjosition of the will, his hungry looks seeming to
devour it as he ffclt that he would like to destroy it
on the spot.

Ramo noted, too, that Paul Capel took a step br
two towards where Katrine was talking eagerly to

Artis. Then he hesitated and turned off to where
Lydia sat alone.

She, too, had been watching Paul Capel's ac-
tions, and now that he turned to her she seemed
to shrink back in her seat, as if his coming troubled
Act.

A FIT OF GENEROSITY. 43

' Let me congratulate you, Mr. Capel/* she said,
rather coldly.

" Thank you," he said with a sigh ; and she saw
him glance in the direction of Katrine.

" I think," said Mr. Girtle, loudly, " that we will
now proceed to fulfill the next part of my instruc-
tions. "

There was a sharp click heard here, as he locked
a little padlock on the tin box, and Gerard Artis
watched him, thinking what a little there was
between him and the obnoxious will.

" Miss D'Enghien, Miss Lawrence, will you
kindly follow me? Ramo, lead the way."

It was like going from one gloom into another
far deeper, as the door was thrown open, and
Ramo led the way along the short, wide passage,
bearing a silver candlestick, whose light played
softly on the great stained window when he stopped,
and illuminated the bronze club of the centaur,
still raised to strike.

The eyes of Qerard Artis were fixed upon the
tin box containing the will — the keen look of
, Katrine D*Enghien on the old Indian servant, as he
took a key from his cummerbund — while Paul
Capel gazed, with his soul in his glance, on
Katrine, ignorant that, with spirit sinking lower
and lower, Lydia was watching him.

The solicitor gave a glance around full of
solemnity and awe, as if to ask were all ready.
Then, as if satisfied, he made a sign to Ramo.

44 THE DARK PIOUSE.

The Indian raised the candlestick above his
head, softly thrust in the key, turned it, and
threw open the door, when once more, from the
darkness within, the strange aromatic odor floated
forth.

" Mr. Capel, you are master here," said the old
lawyer softly. " Enter first. "

CHAPTER VII.

LYING IN STATE.

AUL CAPEL looked round at Katrine, who
-*-* gave him a sympathetic glance, and entered

the room, taking a step forward and pausing for
the rest to follow. Ramo closed the door, and
drew a heavy curtain across, whose rings made a
peculiar thrilling noise on the thick brass rod.

Ramo then lit two wax candles upon the chim-
ney-piece, and a couple more upon the dressing-
table, whose united light was only sufficient to
show in a dim way the extent of the ro(3m, with
its old-fashioned bed and hangings of dark cloth,
similar curtains being over the window, and across
what seemed to be a sect)nd door opposite the
couch.

There was an intense desire to look towards the
bed, but it was mastered by a strange shrinking,
and the visitors to the death-chamber occupied

LYING IN STATE, 45

themselves fifst in looking round at the objects
that met their eye.

It was richly furnished, and on every hand it
seemed that its occupant had taken precautions
to guard himself from the cold of England, after a
long sojourn in a hotter land. A thick Turkey
carpet was on the floor, large skin rugs were by
the fire-place and bed-side, dressing-table, and
wash-stand. Similar rugs were thrown over the
^asy-chairs, and on the comfortable couch by the
ample fire-place, while here and there were tro-
phies of foreign arms; peculiarly-shaped weapons
lay on the dressing-table, and formed the ornamen-
tation of the chimney-piece.

In one corner of the room, carefully arranged
and hung upon a stand, was a strangely grotesque
object, that, in the semi-darkness, somewhat re-
sembled a human figure, but proved to be the tar-
nished uniform worn by the old officer — coatee,
helmet, sword and belts gorgeous with ornamenta-
tion, a pair of pistols with silver butts, and a small
flag of faded silk and gilt stuff were grouped over
a gold embroidered saddle and tarnished shabrack
of Indian work.

Here, too, was one of the Indian figures of
Budha crouched upon an enormous bracket at this
side of the room, looking in the obscurity like a
living watcher of the dead, in an attitude of con-
templation or prayer,

Ramo stood in the silent room, holding the sil-

46 THE DARK HOUSE.

ver candlestick above his head, motionless as an-
other statue, so much in keeping was he in his gvb
and color with the surroundings.

But he was keenly watching every one the while,

w

and taking his cue from a mute question addressed
by Mr. Girtle's ey^s to Paul Capel, he walked sol-
emnly to the head of the heavily hung bed, softly
drew back one curtain, and held the candle over
his dead master's mortal remains.

Paul Capel felt a natural instinctive shrinking
from approaching the bed, but he did not hesitate,
stepping forward with reverence, and even then his
heart gave a throb of satisfaction that one of his
female companions should have stepped calmly to
his side.

Lying there as in a darkened tent, with a couple
of Indian tulwars crossed upon the bed's head, was
a perfectly plain oaken coffin of unusual size, and
without the slightest ornamentation save that on
the lid, resting against the side, was a brass breast-
plate bearing the dead man's name, age, and the
date of death.

Within — wrapped in a rich robe of Indian fabric,
glittering with flowers wrought in gold thread — lay
the Colonel, his face visible, and presenting to those
who gazed upon it for the first time, the fine features
of the old soldier, with his closely cut grey hair,
ample beard, and the scars of two sword cuts across
brow and cheek.

There was no distortion. The old man, full of

LYING IN STATE. 47

days, lay calmly asleep, and Paul Capel bent down
and kissed the icy brow.

When he rose his companion pressed forward,
and, as he gave way, imitated his action, when, to
Ills surprise, he saw that it was not Katrine
D'Enghien, but Lydia.

A low sigh fell upon their ears- as they were
leaving the'bed's head, and Paul raised his eyes to
see that the old Indian was watching, and in the
semi-darkness he saw him quickly raise a portion
of Lydia's dress and hold it to his lips.

Drawing back, they gave place to Katrine and
Gerard Artis, who walked to the bed's head, stood
for a moment or two, and then, as if moved by the
same impulse, both drew away. The old Indian
stepped back with his candlestick, the polished
silver of which seemed to glimmer and flash in the
gloom, the heavy curtain fell in its funereal folds,
and the group turned to Mr. Girtle.

The old man said a few words to Ramo, who
crossed the room to the dressing-table, taking one
by one the candlesticks, and placing them in Paul
and Lydia*s hands, after wrhich he took those from
the chimney-piece to give to Katrine and Gerard
Artis, the old lawyer taking the one the Indian had
carried.

This done, Ramo walked softly to the curtain
that covered what seemed to be the second door,
and again there was the thrilling sound as the
rings swept with a low rattle over the rod, laying

48 THE DARK HOUSE,

bare a strong iron door deep down in a narrow-
arched portal.

Opening his silken robe, he drew out three keys
of curious shape, attached to a stout steel chain
which seemed^ to be round his waist, and soft!
placing one of them in the lock he turned it easil}
when a series of bolts shot back with a loud clane

Then taking out the key, he pressed the door with
his shoulder, and it swung slowly and heavily
open, apparently requiring all the old man's
strength to throw it back.

" Iron, and of great thickness," said Mr. Girtle,
in a low voice. " Mr. Chapel, shall I lead the
way?"

The Coloners heir bowed, and, candle in hand,

the old lawyer passed through the doorway, Ramo
holding back the curtain, and standing like the
guardian of the place.

They saw Mr. Girtle take a couple of steps for-
ward, turn sharply, and descend, and as Paul
Capel followed, he found that to his left were half
a dozen broad stone stairs, flanked by a heavy
balustrade, and that the old lawyer was standing
below, holding up his light.

The next minute, as they reached the floor of
what seemed to be a good-sized chamber, there
was the sound of the curtain being drawn as if to
shut them in, and Ramo came softly down the
little flight of steps, to stand at a distance, with
reverent mien.

LYING IN STATE. 49

By the light of the five candles they now saw
that they wer*^ in a perfectly bare-walled chamber,
apparently floor, walls, and groined roof of stone,
while in the center stood a large massive cube of
solid iron, painted thickly to resemble stone.

So large was it that it seemed as if the re-
\tiainder of the chamber, left uncovered, merely
formed a passage to walk about the four sides.

" This place the Colonel had constructed where
a dressing room used to be," said Mr. Girtle; and
his voice sounded peculiar, being repeated in
whispers from the wall in a hollow, metallic ring
that was oppressive as it was strange.

" Why the place is like a vault with a tomb in
it, " said Art*s, with an impatient tone in his

voice.

It is a vault, Mr. Artis," said the old lawyer
■^ a vault in which is a tomb. "This," he con-
tinued, " is all of enormous strength, blocks of
stone and concrete being beneath us, and the walls
and roof are of immense thickness. The space to
be blocked up is six feet through. "

" Humph, highly interesting, Mr. Showman,"
muttered Artis; and then, at a look from Katrine,
he became attentive.

*' Colonel Capel," continued the old lawyer, " had
his own peculiar ideas, and being an enormously
wealthy man, accustomed to command, he consid-
ered he had a right to follow out his views. I more
than once pointed out to him, when he made me

50 THE DARK HOUSE.

his confidant, that the proceedings he proposed
might meet with opposition from the authorises,
but he replied calmly that the place was his own
freehold, and that everything was to be carried out
privately, but at the same time he would give as
little excuse as possible for interference with his
plans. Besides, he said, once get the matter over,
and it would be forgotten in a week. "

" But, in the name of common sense," broke out
Artis, " why "

" Will you kindly retain your observations, Mr.
Artis, until we have returned to the drawing-room,"
said the lawyer.

Artis was about to reply, but Paul Capel saw that
a look from Katrine restrained him, and a jealous
pang shot through his heart.

Balm came for the wound directly, as Katrine
raised her eyes to his, let them rest there for a few
moments, and then veiled them as she gazed upon
the floor.

" Colonel Capel," continued the old lawyer, with
his words whispering about the stone walls, " had
a double intention in having the place constructed.
Itwas for his mausoleum after death, for his strong
room during Ufe. Within this iron room or cham-
ber, which would defy any burglar's tools, is a chesb
of steel, constructed from the Colonel's own de-
signs, to contain his enormous fbrtune, and when
that has been taken out at twelve o'clock to-mor-
row, it is to be replaced by the coffin' that lies itx

f^

LYING IN STATE. 5 1

the next room, by us who are present now; to be
closed up and locked ; the iron chamber is to be
also closed; then the iron door; and lastly, we are
to see that portal completely walled up, as I have
already told you, and — forgotten.

*' But," said Artis, quickly, " is the large sum in
qotes here — in this place? "

" Yes, sir."

" And the diamonds — the pearls? "said Katrine.

" Yes, my dear young lady, all are here. "

" And you have the keys? "

" I and Ramo, the deceased's trusted servant. "

" But is "

Artis was about to continue, " it safe to trust that

man? " but, as he spoke, he glanced at Ramo, who
was watching him.

" My guide is the series of rules written by Col-
onel Capel, sir," said Mr. Girtle, coldly.

" Can we see the jewels ?" said Katrine.

" Yes; you can show us the treasure, " cried Artis,
with a half-laugh. " As we two are to have nothing,
we might be indulged with a peep."

" The treasure is Mr. Paul Capel's, sir," said the
old lawyer; " but, even if he expressed a wish, I
could not depart from my instructions. To-morrow,
at noon, .1 bid you all to meet me at the door of
Colonel Capel's room.

" To-morrow?" said Artis. " To-day."

The old lawyer glanced ^t his watch.

*' Yes," h^ said, " to-day. I had forgotten that

>l

yy

52 THE DARK HOUSE.

it was so late. Will you kindly accompany me to
the drawing-room?

The Indian went first and drew back the curtain,
and they passed up into the bod-room, where the
old officer lay in state.

There they paused, as Ramo drew back the imn
door and turned the key, when the bolts shot into
their sockets, and the curtain was drawn.

Then, glancing at the bed, they passed out of the
room, Ramo locking the door, listening sharply,
with his ears twitching, as he caught a faint creak-
ing noise made by a lock in the lower part of the
house.

" How strange that bronze figure looks," said Mr.
Girtle, glancing up at the great centaur looming in-
. distinctly against the stained-glass window, in whose
recess it stood.

" Yes," said Paul. " It is a fine work, but it looks
as if it were going to dash out some one's brains.

*' That is what I have always thought whenever
I have entered or left that room. "

I wish to Heaven it had — both of you," mut-
tured Artis. " A hundred pounds. Good God !
A hundred pounds!"

The same thought may have entered Katrine
D'Enghein's head, for, as they moved towards ihr
drawing-room, she laid her arm affectionately round
Lydia's slight waist, and said softly to herself:

" A bangle and a hundred pounds! Mon Dzeuf"

Then the drawing-room door closed, and Ramo

ff

<f

LYING IN STATE. 53

stood in the dark, leaning over the balustrade of
the great well staircase, listening intently till he saW
a door open, and a flash of light came out, shining
on the round, full face of the old butler, and the
keen features of Charles, the footman, the latter
bearing a tray of silver chamber candlesticks.

Ramo glided away, and the two servants bore
the tray to the drawing-room, asked if they would
be wanted again, and retired.

"Good night, dearest," cried Katrine, kissing
Lydia affectionately. " I congratulate you. I am
not jealous. Good night, Mr, Girtle — how tired
you must be," she said, shaking hands. " Good
night, Mr. Artis. Good night, Mr. Capel. I con-
gratulate you heartily. Good night !"

Five minutes later the great drawing-rooni was
as still as the chamber of the dead, and in the dark
house — on staircase and in hall — statue and picture
looked on, and the kneeling idols crouched with
their eyes closed to what was passing, while the
great bronze centaur stood with uplifted club,
ready to strike there, where he seemed to be ov
guard, at his dead master*s door.

But he struck no blow, and the night passed,
and the morning came — a dull, drizzling morning

when the fog hung low, and it was still like
night when Preenham, the butler, knocked heavily
at Mr. Girtle^s door.

The old lawyer drew the wire, and the night
latch allowed the butler to rush in,

54 THE DARK HOUSE.

" Hot water, Preenham ?" sdid the old man.

" For Heaven's sake, get up, sir, and I'll call Mr.
Capel, sir !'* panted the butler.

" What ! Something wrong ?"

"Yes, sir — quick! t'm afraid there's murder
done. "

CHAPTER Vni.

THE HORRORS OF A MORN.

Y the time Mr. Girtle was partly dressed and
had hurried out on the landing, Paul Capel
and Gerard Artis had left their rooms, ready to
question him upon the cause of the alarm.

"I don*t know," he said, trembling. "Preen-
ham came and roused me — speaking of murder —
and, bless my soul ! I did not know you were
there. Miss Lawrence, too !"

Katrine and Lydia had joined them there on
the landing of the second floor, where a chamber
candlestick on a table was almost the only light,
for that which came through the ground glass at
the top of the staircase was so much yellow gloom.

" One of the maids — Anne — came and woke
me," said Katrine, speaking very calmly, as she
looked from one to the other, the most collected
of any one present. *' She said there was some-
thing wrong. "

THE HORRORS OF A MORN. 55

"She woke me, too," cried Lydia. who was
trembhng visibly, and looked of a sallow grey.

" Mr, Girtle, will you come down? "

It was the butler's voice, and Paul Capel ran
quickly down the stairs to the drawing-room floor,
where the old butler, ghastly pale, with his hair
sticking to his forehead, had lit half-a-dozen candles
and stood them, some on a table, some on the
pedestal of the great bronze group outside Colonel
Capel's door.

" What is it? Speak, man! "cried Capel.

" The ladies! Don't let the ladies come!

it

It was too late ; they were already there ; and

the women servants were dimly seen in the gloom
at the foot of the stairs.

*' But what is wrong?" cried Capel.

' ti

" I— I "

The butler passed his hand over his humid face,
and looked piteously from one to the other.

" Preenham! Speak, man! At once! " said Mr.
Girtle, sternly.

I woke at half-past seven, sir," he said, in a
trembling voice, '* and wondered that I had not
been called at seven. Mr. Ramo, sir, always rose
very early, and called me and Charles ; but I was
not surprised, for since master's death, he has

slept outside his door, I think — I'm almost sure,

though I never said anything to "

. " Man, you are torturing us! " cried Capel.

56 THE DARK HOUSE.

" Give him time," said Artis, who looked nerv-
ous and strange.

" Yes, let him speak," said Katrine. "Go on,
Mr. Preenham, and tell us."

" Thank you ma'am, I will," said the butler;
" but — but would you ladies go back to your
room or the drawing-room, I've something
something "

" I'm not a child," said Katrine. " Lydla, dear,

you had better go. "

" I will stay with you," said Lydia, laying her
hand upon Katrine's arm ; and after a helpless
look round, and a motion of his hands, as if he
washed them of any trouble that might come, the
old butler went on.

'* I didn't take much notice, as we were late last
night, but as soon as I was dressed, I knocked at
Charles' door — he sleeps in a turn-up bedstead in
the servants' hall."

The old man directed this piece of information
In those around him, and then went on.

" There was no answer, so I went in, and Charles
\ as not there. "

^' Not there? " said Mr. Girtle, quickly.

" No, sir. The bed had not been slept in. His
livery was on the chair by it, and his cupboard was
open where he keeps his private clothes. "

" This is strange," said Mr. Girtle. *' Goon."

" Yes, sir. I thought perhaps he had let him-
self out through the area gate, sir. He has done

THE HORRORS OF A MORN. 57

such things before, and at a time like this I must
speak plain, "

" Yes. Let me have the truth. Go on."

" I was very angry, sir, and I meant to tell you,,
for it seemed disgraceful at such a time. "

f>

" Go on.

" I will, sir," faltered the butler, " but you must
not flurry me. I have had a shock."

" Let him go on his own way, Mr. Capel," said

the old lawyer.

Preenham gave him a grateful look and con-
tinued :

*' I thought Fd ^o and speak to Mr. Ramo, and

then I met Cook and Anne. "

"We were on the mat, Mr. Preenham," said a
husky voice from below.

" Yes, Mrs Thompson, quite right, and they
went on to the kitchen while I went up into the
hall, and undid the bolts of the front hall door, and
let down the chain."

" Yes — exactly. "

" Then I went up, sir, to see if Mr. Ramo was at
master's door. "

" Yes; go on," said Capel, excitedly.

" And when I came to the door, sir, I found it
was ajar, and though I listened, I could not hear a
sound. So I pushed the door against the big cur-
tain, and called softly, * Ramo ! Mr. Ramo!' but
there was no answer, and then I felt a bit alarmed,
and, after waitinig a moment, I went down and got
a light. "

5 8 THE DARK HOUSE.

" Well ? "

" I called again, sir, twice; and then, pushing
open the door, a puff of wind nearly blew out the

light. "

" Wind ? " cried Mr. Girtle ; and he took a step
towards the door.

" Stop a minute, sir, please,*' said the butler ap-
pealingly. " I went in quickly, and the first thing
I saw was the curtain dragged aside and the window
open. "

" Yes — go on," cried Mr. Girtle, for the butler
was trembling so that he could hardly speak.

"And the next, sir — I nearly fell over him
there was poor Mr. Ramo — lying — in — a pool of
blood."

" Oh ! "

The cry came from Lydia as she tottered and
clung to Katrine, calm amidst the horrors of the
recital.

" I put the candle on the floor, sir, and went
'lown on my knee beside him," cried the butler,
LH owing more and more agitated. "Look," he
said, piteously, pointing to his trousers and his
iiands. " I touched him, sir, but he was dead, sir,
dead, and I came up then and alarmed the house."

Artis looked at the butler narrowly, as his eyes
wandered from one to the other.

" Have you been in, since. Preenham ?"

" No, sir. I went and got the candles, and lit
all I could.

»>

ANOTHER DISCOVERY 59

Capel was about to rush into the room, but he
stopped on the threshold,

*' Miss D^Enghien — Miss Lawrence — this is no

place for you. Pray go back to your rooms. "
" Yes," said Katrine, slowly, " Mr. Capel is

right. Come, dear, with me. "

She passed her arm round Lydia, and the two

seemed to fade away into the darkness, as Capel,

Mr. Girtle, Artis, and, lastly, the butler went into

the room.

CHAPTER IX.

ANOTHER DISCOVERY.

T was precisely as the butler had said. There
was the window open — a window looking out
on to some leads. And beyond them the low
houses of a mews which ran at the back. There,
at a short distance from the bed, was the Colonel's
faithful servant, in a pool of blood, with a koor-
kree — one of those ugly curved Indian knives
clasped tightly in his hand.

" Dead !" said Mr. Girtle; and then, rising
quickly, he ran to the further portal, drew 'back
the curtain, and found the iron door closed.

" There has been a terrible struggle here," said

1( T _ _ 1 . tt

Capel. " Look.

6o THE DARK HOUSE.

He pointed to where, plainly seen on the white
counterpane that half covered the heavy valance,
there was the mark of a bloody hand that had
caught the quilt and dragged it a little down.

" Yes," said Mr. Girtle, looking about at over-
turned chairs, a small table driven out of its
place, and a carriage clock swept off and lying
on the floor. " Yes, there has been a terrible
Struggle."

He looked at the dead man, and then in the di-
rection of the strong chamber.

Artis saw, and said maliciously:

*' Murder must mean robbery. "

"Impossible!" said the lawyer. "The door is

shut. Stop. Let me see," and stooping, he
thrust his hand inside the silken robe the old Indian
wore.

There was a dead silence as he searched hastily,
and then drew out the keys and chain.

" All safe," he cried; " see, here are the keys.
They slip off and on this spring swivel; the old
man always wore them there. The key of that
door; the key of the iron chamber; the key of
the steel chest. Gentlemen, I shall remove the
keys. Mr. Capel, they are yours, now. Take
them. "

"No," said Capel quietly. "Keep them, sir.
Now, what do you make of this? It seems to me
that the murderer must have come in b)' this d*

ANOTHER DISCOVERY. 6 1

and encountered Ramo, and, after the terrible
struggle, have escaped by the window."

" Exactly," said Mr. Girtle.

■' Unless," said Artis, " some one killed this black
rcilow when trying to rob his master."

'' Absurd!" cried Capel angrily, as he bent
Jown over the dead man. " Look here," he cried,
" whoever it was must have been wounded.' This
knife is covered with blood."

" His own, perhaps," said Artis.

" May be so, but I think not. Now, Mr. Girtle,
what next?"

"The police," said the old lawyer huskily.
" Preenham, fetch me a little brandy; this terrible
scene has made me faint. *'

" Go, sir? Leave you here?"

"Yes, go at once," said Mr. Girtle, and there
•^^eemed to be an unwillingness to leave, as the but-
ler went out and closed the door.

*' You did not want that brandy," said Artis
quickly. " You wanted to get rid of him for a few
minutes. I know what you are thinking — that it
was that scoundrelly-faced footman."

" Yes, you have guessed my thoughts."

" And you suspect the butler?"

" I do not say that, sir," said the lawyer coldly.
" We do not know that there has been any robbery
until the plate is examined, but we ought to have
sent for a doctor at once."

" I'll go," said Capel, and hurrying out of the

62 THE DARK HOUSE.

room, he ran down the stairs, caught his hat from
the stand, and hurried from street to street till he
saw the familiar red-eyed lamp.

Five minutes after he was on his way back in
a cab, with a keen-looking, youngish man, to
whom he gave an account of the morning's dis-
covery.

a

Have you given notice to the police?

}t

" No. "

" If I were you, I should send a messenger
straight to Scotland Yard. It will save you from
the blundering of some young constable. Humph

>>

too late.

For, as they reached the room, there was the
familiar helmet of one of the force, the man
having found the door left open by Capel and
rung.

He was a heavy, dull-looking man, who seemed,
as he stood in the darkened room, to consider it
his duty to thrust his hand in his belt, and stare
at the ghastly figure on the floor.

■ Meanwhile the doctor was busily examining the
body of the Indian servant,

" Quite dead!" said Mr. Girtle.

" Yes. Rigor mortis has set in."

" Suicide?"

" Suicide, sir? Oh, bless my soul, no."

*' But that weapon?"

*' Yes, some one had an awful cut with that, I
should say," continued the doctor, and the con-

ANOTHER DISCOVERY. 63

stable mentally drew a line froni the koorkree to
the open window, out on to the leads, and down
into the mews.

(I

What has cansed his death?"

"I cannot tell you yet," said the doctor.
'* Hold the light here, closer, please. Hah, tha(
is the mark of a blow on the arm. There is this
wound on the chin, and on the neck. Hah !
Yes, this seems more likely. There has been a
tremendous blow dealt here on the head — but no
fracture, I think — sort of blow a life-preserver
would give; but, really, I cannot account so far

for his death. Unless What is this peculiar

odor?"

" I told you," said Capel, pointing to the bed.

" No. I don*t mean that," sajd the doctor
quickly. " I mean this about here. Can you see

any bottle?"

He ran his hand down the side of the silk
robe, and then looked round where he knelt.

" What do you mean, doctor?" said Mr.
Girtle.

" There is the same odor that I should expect to
notice in a case of suicide with poison."

Doesn't look much like that," said Artis.
" Why, doctor, look at the traces of the struggle."

"I have looked at them, sir," replied the doc-
tor; ** but, so far, I detect no cause for death. A
proper examination may give different results, but
I must have the assistance of a colleague,"

a

64 THE DARK HOUSE.

" Done, sir ? Finished?" said the constable,
who had remained for the time unnoticed,

" Yes, my man. You will give notice of this at
once, and lock up the room. "

** All in good time, sir, I should like a look round.
Door open, you say?"

*' Yes," said Mr. Girtle,

" Window open?"

fl T,7-- _ H

" Well, then, the fellow who did it seems to have
v^,Tie m: here and escaped there, after getting a cut
wl^h thac crooked knife. "

He turned o.: his bull's-eye lantern, and made the
light play from v^hore the body lay, over the Tur-
key carpet, to the window, where he turned off tke
light, for there was sufficient for him to see and
examine the seat and sill.

No stains — no marks of haads on the window,
no footmarks outside on the leads — not a spot.

He shook his head, and came back.

" Well, my man?" said Mr. Girtle.

" Don't be in a hurry, sir. Law moves slow and
sure, I was in the country before I got out of the
rural into the metropolitan.

" \yhat has that to do with this?" cried Artls.

" Everything, sir," said the constable, turning
sharply on the young man, and watching him nar-

it

rowly. " Fve known cases where windows have
been set open to make it seem that some one's gone
through. "

ANOTHER DISCOVERY. 65

** But the murderer is not in the house," said Mr,

Girtle, uneasily; '* and we suspect "

•* Who's that ?" said the constable, sharply. " Oh,
you, Mr. Butler."

" Yes; IVe brought the brandy for Mr. Girtle,
sir. "

" Never mind, now," said the policeman. " Set
it down. Gentlemen, IVe got a theory about thin
here. "

He turned on his bull's-eye again, as he spoke.

" A theory?" cried Capel, impatiently.

" Yes, sir. You see that crooked knife thins^ ?'*

" Yes. "

" And the mark of the bloody hand on the coun-
terpane, where it is dragged ?"

" Yes, we saw that."

" Well, has any one looked under the bed ?"
"No."

" Then we shall find him there. "
He stepped forward and raised the heavy valance,
directing the light beneath,

" There!" he exclaimed, " What did I say?"

CHAPTER X.

"why, doctor, he's dead!"

N one moment the slow, heavy-looking con-
stable changed, from a rustic, loutish fellow,
to a man full of intelligent observation, for, as he
raised the valance of the bed, there, indistinctly
seen, was the body of a man, either through fear
or to escape observation.

With a quick motion of the hand, the constable
opened the leather case at his side, and drew his
truncheon.

" Stand at the window, sir," he said to Capel.
" You, sir, keep the door. Now, then," he cried,
as soon as he had been obeyed, and in a sharp,
authoritative voice. ** The game's up. Out you

cojne. "

Capel set his teeth hard, for all this was horrible
in that chamber of death.

" Do you hear?" cried the constable, sharply,
for there was neither word nor movement from
beneath the bed

"Oh, very well," he continued, "only I warn
you I stand no nonsense. And the occupants of
the 'room prepared for a struggle, with beating
hearts.

The constable stepped back to them, and from
behind his hand, said, softly:

66

" WHY, DOCTOR, HE'S DEAD! " 6/

" Be ready, perhaps there's two. "

He stepped back and stooped with his staff
ready for a blow.

" Now, then," he cried; " is it surrender?"

There was no answer, and, he thrust his hand
beneath the bed, seized the man's leg, and dragged
him out into the room, but only to loose his hold
and start away.

" Why, doctor!" he cried, " he's dead."

The doctor caught up a candlestick and dropped
on one knee beside the fresh horror, while the
light from the bull's-eye was again brought to bear,
and mingled with the wan, yellow rays that
struggled in through the panes,

" Good God, gentlemen!" gasped the butler,
" it's Charles. "

The horribly distorted features were, indeed,
those of the footman, and the mystery of the
death chamber began to grow lighter, for it was
evident that for some reason he had entered the
room in the night. For no good mission, cer-
tainly, a short whalebone-handled life-preserver
hanging by a twisted thong from his wrist.

The hideous stains upon the koorkree were
clearly enough explained by the sight of a ter-
rible gash in the man's throat, and one of his hands
was crimsoned and smeared — the one that had left
its print upon the quilt, as, in his death struggle,
he had rolled beneath the bed.

"No one else there, gentleman," said the coo**

68 THE DARK HOUSE.

stable, looking beneath the bed and making his
lantern play there and about the curtains, whilst as
it shed its keen light across the calm, sleeping face
of the Colonel, the man involuntarily took oft his
helmet and stepped back on tiptoe.

" Dead some hours," said the doctor, rising.

"It is clear enough," said Mr. Girtle, in the
midst of the painful silence. ** This poor Hindoo
was the faithful old servant of my deceased friend,
and he died in defense of his master's property. "

" Yes, yes," cried the old butler, excitedly.
" Charles used to talk about master's money and
diamonds in the servants' hall. I used to reprove
him, and say that talking about such things was
tempting yourself. "

*' Never asked you to be in it, of course? " said
tl;ie constable, going close up to him.

** Oh, no; never, sir; but are you quite sure both
him and Mr. Ramo are dead ? "

" Quite," said the constable. "There, you can
say what you like, but it's my duty to tell you that
I shall take down anything you say, and it may be
used in evidence against you. "

" Against me! " cried the butler.
" Yes, against you. "

But there was no occasion for the note-book, for
Preenham closed his lips and did not speak again.

" I think I will satisfy myself, constable, that all
is safe here," said Mr. Girtle. " Gentlemen, will
you come with me? "

" WHY, DOCTOR, HE'S DEAD! " 69

He crossed the room, drew back the curtain over
the portal and, taking out his keys, unlocked and
pushed back the door, descending with the others
into the vault-like chamber and examining the
massive iron structure in the middle.

" It is quite safe," he said, as the constable made ,
the light of his lantern play here and there.

" But you have not looked in the safe/' said
Artis, quickly.

" There is no need, sir. No one could have
opened it, even with the keys, but Ramo or myself.
Nothing has been touched."

The policeman drew a long breath and they
returned to the death chamber, Mr. Girtle carefully
locking the iron door.

" I don't think we shall want any detectives here,
gentlemen," said the constable; ** I shall stay on
the premises, but perhaps you will let the butler-
no, I think one of you, perhaps — will be good
enough to send in the first constable you see."

" I am going back," said the doctor. " I can
do no more now, policeman. I will send a man to

II

>»

you.

" Thankye, sir, if you will."

" Of course you will give notice to the coroner,
and there will be a post-mortem?

" You leave that to me, sir; only send me one of
our men."

They were stealing out on tiptoe, when Capel
went back and drew the heavy curtains right across

70 THE DARK HOUSE.

the bed, to shut from the old warrior the horrors
that lay in the middle of the room. The constable,
too, stepped softly across to fasten the window.
Then, following the others out, he closed and locked
the door, turning round directly, ducking down, and
involuntarily attempting to draw his truncheon, as
he raised his left arm to ward off a blow.

" Bah! " he ejaculated. " Why, it's a stature.
Looked just as if it was going to knock one down. "

CHAPTER XI.

THE TREASURE.

WEEK of horror and anxiety, during which
the customary legal processes had been gone
through.

A jury had visited the Dark House and been
conducted through the two rooms, to go away dis-
appointed at not seeing the inside of the great iron
safe. Then, after the evidence had been given, by
the various witnesses at the inquest, including that
of the two doctors who had performed the post-
mortem examination, a verdict was returned which
charged Charles Pillar with wilful murder, and
stated that the Indian had committed justifiable
homicide.

The doctors had differed, as it is proverbially
$aid that they will, Dr. Heston, the young medical

t«E TREASURE. 71

man, who had been called in first, telling the jury
that he was not satisfied that the blows given had
caused the death, and drawing attention to the pe-
culiar odor he had noticed. But the Coroner, an
old medical man, sided with the colleague, who
pooh-poohed the idea, and the verdict was given.

The coroner was a good deal exercised in his
mind whether some proceedings ought not to
have been taken in respect to the remains of the
late Colonel, but he obtained no legal support, and
the terrible murder and attempted robbery at
No. 9A, Albemarle Square, with the history of the
embalming, and the mysterious inner chamber,
were public property for the usual nine days, when
something fresh occurred, and the interest died
away.

Then, once more, there was the old peace in the
Dark House, where the remains of Colonel Capel
lay in state in the mystery-haunted room.

The servants were very reticent, and conse-
quently but little was heard of the proceedings in
Albemarle Square. A good many loiterers had
stopped to stare at the darkened windows of the
great mansion ; but as two coffins had been born*^
from the place, it was forgotten outside that an-
other still remained. What might have been some
busy-body*s business, became no ones, and the
horrible tragedy tended towards the simplification,
of the dead man's instructions.

" It is nine days now since the Colonel's com-

^^ THE DARK HOUSE.

mands should have been fulfilled," said Mr. Girtle,
as they were seated at lunch in the darkened din-
ing-room — the same party, for Katrine had ex-
pressed her determination to stay in the house
through all the trouble, and Lydia had offered to
remain with her.

Katrine and Lydia had kept a great deal to their
rooms ; Mr. Girtle spent most of his time in the
library, busy over papers, only appearing at meal
times, and. consequently, Paul Capel was thrown a
great deal into the society of Gerard Artis, treat-
ing him always in the most friendly way, and
declining to notice the barbs of the verbal arrows
the other was fond of launching.

One of Artis's favorite allusions was to the
house his companion inherited.

" I felt horribly jealous of you at first," he said.
" Seemed such a pot of money ; but with special
commands to live here with a haunted room, and a
commands to live here, with a haunted room and a
mausoleum bey id it — no, thank you."

" What shall you do with the chamber of hor-
rors ?"-§aid Artis, on another occasion.

" You heard — it is to be built up."

No, no ; I mean the bed-room. Ugh !

«

«

»

I shall take that as my own."
" What ? A room haunted with the spirits of

three dead men ! Bah ! Impossible,

»

Then came the ninth day, and Mr. Girtle an-

THE TREASURE. 73

nounced that on the next his instructions should
be carried out precisely at twelve.

" That will give you ample time, Mr. Capel, to

visit a banker afterwards ; for, after the late expe-
rience, I should not lose an hour in depositing your
great uncle's bequest in the han'ds of your banker."

" You will go with me, I hope."

The old man looked pleased, and nodded.

" But I had reckoned upon seeing the jewels,"
said Katrine, with a smile at the young heir, which
made his heart throb, and Lydia shrink.

"That pleasure must be deferred," Miss
D'Enghien," said the old lawyer, crustily ; and no
more was said.

At twelve o'clock punctually, the next day, Mr,
Girtle unlocked the door of the Colonel's room^ and
fulfilling Ramo's duty, held it back while the young
men bore in Ughts ; Katrine and Lydia followed,
and the old butler, looking shrunken and depressed,
came last, to close the door and draw the curtain.

It was mid-day, but it might have been mid-
night. Candles were lit again on chimney-piece
and dressing-table, and after the old 'solicitor had
seen that the door was fastened within, he took out
his key, drew the portal curtain at the end, and
then unlocked and slowly pushed open the iron
door.

At a given order the butler solemnly carried a
couple of -candles down into the vault, and stood
there in the gloomy stone chamber, where, to those

74 THE DARK HOUSE.

who stood waiting his return, they seemed to cast
a peculiarly weird light.

Then, in utter silence, the lid was placed over
the calm, sleeping features, and the four men, tak-
ing each a handle, lifted and bore the coffin down.
There was some little difficulty in the sharp turn of
the steps, but in a few minutes all was done, and
the coffin lay upon the flagstones, while the two
girls stood hand clasping hand.

Mr. Girtle walked round to the back of the iron
safe and stooped down, when a peculiar clang was
heard, as if a spring had been set free, and a large
panel at the end where Capel was standing, dropped
down.

As the old lawyer came back, candle in hand, it
was now seen that the panel that had fallen laid
bare a key-hole.

Upon the key being inserted in this, and turned,
the panel flew back, and glided over the key-hole
as soon as the key was drawn out, displaying a
second key-hole, crossed by a row of lettered brass
slides.

These the old lawyer manipulated till the letters
formed in a row a particular word, when the second
key-hole was laid bare, the key inserted and turned,
and one end of the iron safe revolved on a pair of
huge pivots, shewing the interior — plain, rectangu-
lar and dark, with an oblong mass of black metal
in the centre.

THE TREASURE. 75

'* The steel chest," said the old lawyer, in a
whisper, as he stepped inside the great safe, in
which he could nearly stand upright.

Candle in hand he went to the other end, put
down the light for a moment to set his hands free
to get a second key — a curiously long, thin key,
with the end of which he pushed something at the
back of the chest. Then, going to one side, he
repeated the act, went back round to the other
side, and again repeated it, after v/hich he came to
the front, and as he held down the light, those who
were intently watching his actions saw that there
was a small circle of Roman figures, with a hand
like that of a small clock, which he pushed round
with the end of the key, till it was at the letter V.
This done, he bent over the chest, and repeated
the action twice upon the top.

Then, as he stepped out, a sharp sound was
heard, and a key-hole was laid bare once more.
In this he placed the key, turned it, and the steel
chest seemed to split open from end to end,' divid-
ing in equal parts, which slowly turned over on
massive hinges, leaving the centre — a space large
enough to hold the coffin — wide open.

"Mr. Capel," said the old lawyer, stepping
aside, " the next duty is yours. There lie the
bank notes and the case of precious stones. I
give them over to your care."

Paul Capel hesitated for a moment, glanced at
his companions, then back at the opening leading

76 THE DARK HOUSE

to the Colonel's room, were Katrine and Lydia
were watching.

The young man's heart beat heavily as he took
the candle, and stooping down entered the iron
chamber to take from its hiding place his enormous
fortune.

It was but a step, and he had only to stretch out
his hand to pick up the two cases, but

The steel chest held nothing.
The treasure was not there.

CHAPTER XII.

THE END OF THE INSTRUCTIONS,

j^AUL CAPEL did not realize his position
" " Is there some mistake, Mr. Girtle ?"

"Mistake?"

" There is nothing here !"

"Nothing there?"

" Nothing ! See for yourself. "

The old man stepped in, searched, and came out
with drops of sweat upon his yellow forehead.

^' Well ?" exclaimed Capel, excitedly, as the old
man stared in a dazed way. .

" It is gone !'* said the old lawyer, in a hoarse
voice, and his hands trembling violently.

" Well, Mr. Girtle," said Capel, at last, in a voice

>»

THE END OF THE INSTRUCTIONS. ^7

that he vainly strove to make firm ; " what have
you to say ?

" To say ?" said the old lawyer, hastily.

" Oh, it is all a cock and bull story," cried Artls.
" There never was any treasure."

" Silence, sir," cried the old lawyer recovering
himself. " How can you speak like that in the
presence of the dead ?"

"Bah!" cried Artis. "Presence of the dead,
indeed ! Presence of a mummy. Would you have
me pull a long face as I went through the British
Museum?"

»

)»

" I would have you behave

"You look here," cried Artis, sharply. "You
are executor, and this treasure, if there was one,
lay in your charge. It*s nothing to me. If it
were, I should call in the police.

" Mr. Capel," cried the old lawyer excitedly, " I
swear to you, sir, that the money and jewels were
there a fortnight ago. I came down here with
Ramo, and there lay the two cases with their con-
tents. "

" Well?" said Capel, " what then ?"

" We carefully closed up the place."

" Then somebody must have been down since,
and taken the treasure away. "

" Only two men could have done this, sir, Ramo
and myself.

II

" That throws it on to you," said Artis.

7^ THE DAkK MOUSE.

«

And my reputation, sir, will bear me out when
I proclaim my innocence. "

" I don't know," said Artis. " Sudden tempta-
tion ; kleptomania and that sort of thing. "

The old lawyer turned his back,

" Mr. Gerard Artis, this is no time for such
remarks as these," said Capel. " Mr. Girtle, what
have you to say?"

" At present, nothing, sir. I am astounded. You
know we came down on that dreadful morning, and
found the chamber intact; besides it could not have
been forced. "

" There were the keys," said Artis.

" But they have never left my person. There were
but the two sets of keys — the Colonel's and mine.
Those were the Colonel's set that we found upon
Ramo. "

" Rather strange that the Colonel should have
given you a set," said Artis.

*' No more strange than that a gentleman should
trust a banker," said Capel.

'* What, going to side with the lawyer?"

Capel made no reply, only gazed searchingly at
the old executor.

" There may have been other keys, Mr. Girtle. "

" Oh, no. The place was made some years ago,
for a sarcophagus, and the makers never imagined
that it would be used for a safe,"

There was a dead silence.

THE END OF THE INSTRUCTIONS. 79

" Let us search again. The cases may have slipped

aside."

" It is impossible," said the old lawyer; and as
they two passed into the iron chamber, Artis ex-
changed a glance with Katrine, while the old butler
stood looking dazed.

"You see," said Mr. Girtle, holding down the
light, " there is nowhere for the cases to hdve slipped;
all is of plain, solid steel, without a corner or crack. "

" But underneath," said Capel.

" Underneath? Look for yourself," said Mr. Gir-
tle; where there is not solid steel there is solid iron,
and beneath that, massive stone. The treasure seems
to have been spirited away. "

" That*s it," said Artis. ** The old man was not
satisfied, and he got up out of his coffin and hid it
somewhere else. "

Capel caught Artis by the collar.

"I will not " he began; but mastering his

indignant anger he let fall his arm.

"There is nothing here," he said; " let us look
about the outside. "

*

That was the work of a minute, for on every hand
there was the blank stone — wall, floor and roof,
and the exterior of the iron safe or tomb was per-
fectly rectangular and smooth.

" What was the size of the cases ?"

" One was about twelve inches by eight, and three
or four deep, and the other rather smaller," replied
the old lawyer ; " both too large for me to have

8o THE DARK HOUSE.

juggled them into my pockets when I opened the
steel chest, Mr. Artis."

*' You held the keys, and if you meant to take
the treasure, you had it before."

"Enough of this," cried Capel. "It is plain
that the bequest has been taken away. Mr. Girtle,
we will finish at once — fulfil my uncle's commands.
Come. "

He went to the head of the oaken coffin, and
took one handle, when, influenced by his example,
the others helped to raise it a little from the floor,
and it was thrust in and onward, till it rested
upon the bottom of the steel chest, nearly filling
the space.

Capel stood on the right of the entrance, and
for fully five minutes there was perfect silence in
the soleihn chamber.

" Go on, Mr. Girtle," Capel said, at last, and the
old man bent down, thrust the key in the end, gave
a half turn, and the two ponderous sides slowly
curved over till they were nearly together leaving
only a few inches of the shining brass breastplate
visible. Then there was a faint click, and the left
side fell heavily, setting free the right, which de-
scended with a loud clang, and closed tightly over
a rebate in the lower side, so closely, that it was
only by holding a candle near that the junction
could be seen.

"Go on;" and the old lawyer again inserted a
key.

THE YOUNG DOCTOR. 8t

There was no show of effort on his part, as the
old lawyer turned the key, when the end of the
iron chamber closed in tightly, and after once
more examining the blank stone chamber, they
slowly ascended the steps. Then the iron door
was closed and locked, and Mr. Girtle handed
Capel the keys.

An hour later, a couple of masons were at work
with the stones that were below in the locked up
cellar, and the next day they had tilled in a wall of
six feet thick, cemented over the face, so thj*t only
a dark patch showed where the entrance to th«

colonel's tomb had been.

CHAPTER XIII.

THE YOUNG DOCTOR.

^'T^OOK here," said Artis ; " yov musti t be
•Lj offended with me. I speak verj* p'ainly. and
if I can be of any use to you, I will,"

They were in the drawing-room, Preenhanx hav-
ing announced that the masons had left.

" I am not going to think of your remarks. "
"I was thinking of going to-day," continued

Artis ; " but I feel now that I ought not to go and

leave you in a regular hole like this. "
" There is no need for you to stay. "

82 THE DARK HOUSE.

" Well, no need, of course ; but I suppose you
will not kick me out. "

" Of course not. You are welcome."
" That's right," said Artis. " You see," he con-
tinued, looking round to where Katrine and Lydia

sat together, " I feel it due to myself to stop and
show that I had no hand in that. "

" No one accused you, Mr. Artis."

" Oh, no, of course not ; that would be too good
a joke. Then I shall stay. "

" Our case is different." said Lydia, turning red,
and then pale. " Mr. Capel, Miss D'Enghien and
I, if we can be of no more use, would like to say
good-bye this afternoon."

it

" But why ? " cried Capel, as he^ glanced at the
speaker, and then fixed his eyes on Katrine.
*' There is no occasion for you to leave.

" I think Miss Lawrence is right," said Katrine.

" But I want help and counsel Irom both of you.
You must not leave me yet. "

" It is impossible for us to stay.

»

" Impossible ! Why ? Etiquette ? Is not Mr.
Girtle here ? Are not things as they have been
since we met ? "'

" I did not know that Mr. Girtle was going to
stop ? " said Katrine, softly. " If I felt that we
could be of any service "

"Then you will stay ?" cried Capel, warmly.
Katrine hesitated, looked up, then down, raised

THE YOUNG DOCTOR. 83

her eyes once more, and left her chair to take
Lydia's hand.

" Let us go up-stairs," she said softly.

Lydia rose at once.

" You do not speak," said Capel.

Katrine did not answer till they reached the
door, and then she raised her eyes to his with a
long, timid look.

" If Lydia consents, so will I."

'* And you will stay, Miss Lawrence, to help
me ? " cried Capel, warmly.
" I will," said Lydia, gravely.
" That*s right," cried Capel, opening the door

for them to pass out, and catching Katrine's eye
for a moment as she passed.

" Curse her! She's playing a dangerous game,"
bdid Artis to himself, as he watched the ladies
leave the room.

Glancing aside, he saw that the old lawyer was
watching him narrowly.

"I suppose you are not glad that I am going to
stay, Mr. Girtle," he said.

"For some things I am," said the old man,
coolly. " For others I am not. "

Just then Capel returned.

The two girls separated as they reached their
rooms, Katrine kissing Lydia's cheek, and then,
as soon as she was alone, her countenance
changed, and she sat gazing with glowing eyes^

84 THE DARK PfOUSE.

that seemed full of some purpose upon which she
was bent.

At the same time Lydia Lawrence sat with
her face buried in her hands, weeping silently
and wishing that she were back in her country
home.

Very little more was said below, for Mr. Girtlc
had an engagement in the City, and left the
young men together.

«

" You won't have a detective set to work?
" No. "

" Well, do as you like. I'm ofif for a run, to
get rid of this gloom. Back to dinner. "

" Thank goodness!" said Artis, breathing more

freely, and five minutes after he was slowly cross-
ing the square, wondering who the man was who
had just gone up to the door he had left.

" I've seen his face before." he muttered.
" Why, of course, the young doctor. What does
he want?"

Capel was thinking of the fortune that had
slipped through his fingers. Depressed, and yet
at times overjoyed, for Katrine's glance had been
full of hope. But he must trace the money that
had been taken, and the gems — how lovely they
would look on Katrine's neck!

He sighed as he pictured her thus adorned, and
he was sinking into a day dream, when the door
opened softly, and Preenham entered with the
doctor's card.

THE YOUNG DOCTOR. * 85

" Doctor Heston? Show him up."

Capel motioned his visitor to a chair, when the
keen-looking young doctor, who was watching him
narrowly, said:

" I dare say you are surprised to see me here.'

"Oh, no. A call?"

" I only make professional calls, Mr. Capel, I
have come to you on an important matter."

" Indeed!" exclaimed Capel.

" Yes. Respecting the death of one of those
two men — the Indian, sir. Fm afraid there was
some foul play there. "

" Foul play? Why, he was killed with a life

ft

preserver

The doctor tapped with his fingers on his hat,
as if he was beating a funeral march. Then,
quickly:

" No, sir; the more I study this case, the more I
feel convinced that he was not.

»

CHAPTER XIV.

A CLEVER DIPLOMATIST.

" QOCTOR HESTON, you surprise me. There

^ was the inquest. "

" Yes, where my opinion, sir, was overruled by
the coroner and my colleague, both elderly medical
men, sir, while I am young and comparatively
inexperienced. You are disposed to think that
this is a case of professional jealousy. "

" I will be frank with you. I did think so."

" Exactly, but pray disabuse your mind. I am
not jealous, I am angry with myself for giving
way in that case. It seemed all very straight-
forward, but it was not. "

" May I ask what you mean? "

" I mean, sir, that I am certain that our poor old
Indian friend did not die from the blow that he
received from that life-preserver."

" How then? " said Capel, huskily.

" It seems to me that he must have been poisoned
in some way or another, and I could not rest with-
out coming to you."

" Oh, impossible."

" Perhaps so, sir, but I am telling you what I

believe. Do you think he had any enemies here?

Oh, no; the servants seemed to have been on

friendly terms. "

S6

J>

n

A CLEVER DIPLOMATIST, 87

" Well, it hardly seems like it. '*

" That wretch must have yielded to a terrible
temptation," said Capel, " and the other was de-
fending his master's goods. "

" What goods? " said the doctor.

Capel was silent.

" I see, sir, there is more mystery about this than
you care to explain. Was there some heavy sum
of money in the late Colonel's room, and were these
two men in league? "

*' I don't think they were in league."
" Was any one else interested in the matter? "
"Oh, no; impossible," said Capel, half aloud.
" Dr. Heston, I am afraid there is a good deal ot
imagination in what you say. Let me try and dis-
abuse your mind. "

" I should be glad if you could."
Capel paced the room for a few minutes.
" This has taken me quite by surprise. Doctor
Heston," he said. " Give me a little time to think
it over. Will you keep perfectly private all that
you have said to me? "

*' I don't like to suspect men unjustly, and yet
I'm afraid I've done wrong, in giving him time,"
said the doctor, as he went down. " Well, a week
is not an age. "

As soon as he had left, Paul Capel let his head
go down upon his hands, for his brain seemed to
be in a whirl — the death of Ramo— the disappear-
ance of the fortune — the visit of the doctor.

88 THE DARK HOUSE

It only wanted this latter, with the hints he had
thrown out, to fire a train of latent suspicion in the
young man's mind.

There was that open window that the policeman
had declared had not been used. Was he wrong?
Had others been in the conspiracy and turned after-
wards on Ramo and Charles? They might have
been in the plot. Or, again, they might have been
defending their master^s wealth against the wretch
who had escaped with the treasure by the open
window.

Those three Italians!

Had they anything to do with the matter?

The old butler! He seemed so quiet and inno-
cent! But often beneath an air of innocency; crime
found a resting place.

Then he found himself suspecting Mr. Girtle, and
on the face of the evidence Capel laid before him-
self, the case looked very black. He knew every-
thing; he held the keys — he, the old friend and
companion, had been left merely a signet ring.

" Impossible 1" cried Capel, half aloud ; " I
might as well suspect Artis, or Miss Lawrence,
or Katrine herself.

" May I come in," said a voice that sent a
thrill through the thinker, and Katrine D*Enghien

stood in the doorway.

"Come in? Yes," cried Capel, advancing to
meet her with open hands, and moved by an im-
pulse that he could not withstand.

*t

A CLEVER DIPLOMATIST. 89

" Is anything the matter," she said simply.

"Yes — no — yes, a great deal is the matter,"
cried Capel. " There, I must speak to you."

" Mr. Capel!" she said, half in alarm.

"Forgive me if I seem impetuous," he cried,
" but I am greatly troubled in mind, and I feel
as if I would give anything for the sympathy of
one who would listen to my troubles, and help me
with her counsel.

" Surely you have all our sympathy, Mr.
Capel," said Katrine, innocently.

"Yes, I hope so," he cried earnestly, " but I
want more than that, Katrine. You must know
that I love you. "

"Mr. Capel!"

" Pray do not be angry with me."

" Is this a time or season to make such a decla-
ration to me. Mr. Capel?" said Katrine, softly.

" For some things — no, for other things — yes.
I am in such sore need of help and counsel, such
as could be given me by the woman who returned
my love. No, no ; don't leave me. Hear me
out. As soon as I heard that will read, it filled
my heart with joy, for it told me that I was rich,
and that these were riches which I could share with
you. Then, when the discovery was made that
the treasure had been stolen, it was not the wealth
that I regretted, but I despaired because it seemed
that you were farther from me. But listen to me.

90 THE DARK HOUSE.

I am trying hard to discover how this large fortune
has been swept away. '*

Katrine's eyes glittered.

" Help me in my endeavors^ and tell me this
some day if I make the discovery, and am once
more in a position to ask you to be my wife — you
will listen to me?"

" She raised her beautiful eyes to his, and he
caught her hand.

It was withdrawn, and she said softly:

" I am sorry you should think me so sordid. "

" Then you love me," he cried.

" I made no such confession. The man to whom
I give my hand will not be chosen for the sake of

his money.

" Then I may hope?" he cried.

Mr. Capel, is it not your duty to find your
fortune?"

" Yes, but let me say, our fortune," he cried.

" Mr. Capel, do not speak to me again like this.
I should feel that i was standing in your light if I
listened now. "

" But at some future time?"

She looked at him softly, and his breath went
and came f^st, as her speaking eyes rested on his,
and he saw the damask-red deepen in her cheeks.

"Wait till that future time comes," she ^vhis-
pered-

' And you will help me?" he cried.

iy

«(

IN THE DARK. 9I

" Yes," she said, at last, " I will help you— all I
can. "

He would have caught her in his arms, but she
raised her hand.

" I thought we were to be friends."
" Friends," he whispered. " I love you."
" It must be then as a friend," she said, in her
low voice; but there was that in her look which
made Capel's heart throb, while, when she extended
her hand, he kissed it, without being aware that
Lydia had entered the room, and drawn back, with
a weary look of misery in her face that she vainl>
sought to hide.

CHAPTER XV.

IN THE DARK.

*• T ffiOOK here, Kate, Vm not going back till I've
LA had a good try here to see if something
can't be made out of this affair. "

Katrine D'Enghien sat in the drawing-room of
the Dark House, with her eyes half closed, as if
listening to the ballad Lydia was singing in a low
tone in the corner of the back room, while Capel
stood by turning over the leaves.

The old lawyer was in another corner at a card
table, on whose green surface lay a heap of papers
and parchments, one of which he took up from

92 THE DARK HOUSE.

time to tSme, and laid down, after examining it by
the light of the shaded lamp.

" You said only yesterday that you were sick of
this domestic cemetery," said Katrine.

" So I am, for it's doleful enough for anything
here, only it makes me mad to see such a wealth
of art treasures and plate belonging to this fellow
Capel. "

" Then it is very evident that you did not filch
the old man's treasure," said Katrine.

" Yes, my dear, very evident. If I had, I
should not be here. "

" Unless you thought it better for the sake of
throwing people off the scent," said Katrine, with
a peculiar look in his face.

" I say," he cried, returning the gaze, " what do
you mean ? You don't think I killed those two fel-
lows, and got the plunder, do you ?"

" I don't know," she replied.

" Well, then, I didn't. I never had the chance."

" Or the brains to conceive such a coup, "

" Look here," cried Artis.

. " Don't speak so loud, Gerard."

" Oh, very well. But look here. Madam Clever,
did you manage that bit of business?"

Katrine raised her soft, white hands.

"Don't do that," said the young man. "You
make me want to kiss them. "

" You would not be so foolish, now.

i>

€€

>>

IN THE DARK. ' 93

I don't know. And look here, I don't like you
being so thick with Capel. "

*' Don't you? He wants to marry me.

" ril break his neck first. "

*' You will act sensibly and well, mon cAer/' said
Katrine, " that is, if you mean that we are to be
married by-and-by. "

" Mean it? Of course."

" But not on a fortune of one hundred pounds
each, mon cher. "

" Good Heavens ! No, "

** Then hold your tongue, and say nothing."

" But I shall say something, if I see you working
up a flirtation with that cad. "

" You will say nothing, do nothing, see nothing.
We cannot marry and starve.

" But tell me, Kate — honor bright — you don't
care for this Capel ?"

" I care for him !

))

»>

" Tell me, then, what do you mean to do?

" Have my share of that money," said Katrine,
with a peculiar hardening of her face.

" Bah ! I don't believe the treasure ever existed.
It was a craze on the old man's part. "

" You must be careful. Don't say or do anything
to annoy Paul Capel or Mr. Girtle. We must stay
here. It was no craze on the old man's part, maybe
I can tell where the fortune is. "

" What ? You mean that ?"

". Hush ! I am working for us both. "

94 THE DARK HOUSE.

"But tell me "

** Hush! She has finished the song," said Ka-
trine, leaning back and clapping her hands softl)'.
" Thank you, thank you," she said. " Oh, what a
while it is since I heard that dear old ballad.*'

The evening wore away till bed-time, when the
butler brought in and lit the candles, according to
his custom, Katrine and Lydia taking theirs, and
going at once, and Gerard Artis following after
partaking of a glass of soda-water, leaving the old
lawyer and Capel together.

They sat in silence for some minutes, when the
old lawyer said :

" I do not seem to get any nearer to the un-
raveling of this knot, Mr. Capel. "

" Do you still adhere to the opinion that the
treasure was there?"

" Yes; and we shall find it soon."

** By a masterly inactivity? "

" OK, no," replied the old man. " for I am taking
.steps of my own to redeem myself. I don't think
those jewels can be sold, or one of those notes
changed, without word being brought to me.

Capel felt won by the old man's manner. He
ishook hands with him warmly, and said " Good-
night. "

He went to the door with him, and saw the
light shine on the thin, silvery hair as he went
slowly up the staircase, while his candle cast a
grotesque shadow on the wall. Then, as Capel

IN THE DARK. 95

listened, h^ heard the old man shut his chamber
door, open it softly, and shut it again more loudly;
while, with the great house seeming to be doubly
steeped in darkness and silence, Paul Capel went
back to the lounge in which he had been seated,
leaving his chamber candle burning like a tiny stai
in the great sea of gloom, and sat back, thinking.

The candle burned lower as he thought on,
ransacking his memory for some slight clue that
would help him to find his lost fortune.

The candle went out.

Had he been asleep?

He could not say. He believed that he had
been only thinking deeply. At all events, he was
widely awake now, as he sat back listening to the
heavy beating of his own heart, as he stared through
the intense darkness towards the door, upon whose
panel he had felt sure he had heard a soft pat, as if
something had touched it.

A minute — it might have been half-an-hour, it
seemed so long — and there was a faint rustling,
and Paul Capel knew, as he stared through that
intense darkness, that some one, or something, Wcis
coming silently towards where he sat.

CHAPTER XVI.

" YOU HERE !"

"^AUL CAPEL was not superstitious, but a
" curious thrill ran through his nerves, and his
first impulse was to leap up and shout, " Who's
there ?'*

Then a thought flashed through his brain that
whoever this was might have something to do with
the disappearance of the treasure, and he told
himself that he would wait, though the next mo-
ment he found himself frankly owning that a chill
of dread had frozen his powers, and that he could
not have moved to save his life.

A minute's reflection told him that it could not
be a burglar. No one would come singly upon
such a mission, and the marauder would have
been provided with a dark lantei'n or matches. It
must be some one in the house. The superstitious
fancies were cleared away, as his heart gave a
throb, with the hope that he might now find the
clue to the mystery that was hanging over the
place..

Thought after thought flashed through his brain,

and, as they dazed him with the wild conjectures,

the person, whoever it was, glided nearer and

96

4( -r^-w-r *-r-n^«t f>

YOU here! 97

nearer, and all doubt fled, for, whoever it was, had
stretched out, a hand and touched the silver can-
dlestick upon the table where he had set it down.

There was again silence, and then it seemed to
Capel, as he sat there, that the nocturnal visitor
had made the table a starting-point for a fresh
departure in the dark, and was going from him
toward the back drawing-room, in the left hand
corner of which the old lawyer had- sat that night.

Doubtless there are people who can weigh every
act before they commit themselves to it, but the
majority of us, even the most thoughtful, go on
weighing a great many, and then in the most im-
portant moments of our lives forget all about the
balance or the mental weights and scales, and so
it was that, all in an instant, Paul Capel, unable
longer to bear the mental strain, rose quickly from
his seat, took two strides forward, and grasped at
the intruder, exclaiming:

"Who's there?"

He touched nothing, he heard nothing, and the
old chill came back for a moment or two with
its superstitious suggestions ; but he drew out
a little silver match-box, vvhich rattled as he
opened it, shook a match into his moist hand,
struck it, and the faint little star of light flashed
out.

" Katrine, you here ?" he exclaimed.

There were candles on an occasional table, and
he lit one before the little wax match burned down,

98 THE DARK HOUSE.

and then he remained speechless for the moment,
gazing at Katrine D'Enghien, who stood within the
back drawing-room, her long hair loosely knotted
on her neck, her white arms outstretched before
her, and half away from him. She stood motion-
less, as if turned to stone.

" Katrine !" he cried again.

He took a step or two towards her, his first
impulse being to clasp her in his arms ; but, as she
stood motionless before him, draped in a long grey
peignoir that swept the ground, there was some-
thing about her that repelled him, so that he stood
staring at her unable to speak.

Suddenly she turned from him, and stood gazing
at the corner where the piano stood, walked slowly
towards it, and rested her hand upon it, remaining
there motionless for a few moments till, catching
up the candle, Capel went towards her, his pulses
throbbing, and his temples seeming to flush as if a
hot breath from a furnace had passed over them.

But before he reached her she turned slowly,
and walked straight towards him, her eyes wide
open, and gazing intently before her.

She would have walked right upon him, had he
not given way, and then stood holding the candle,
while she went deliberately to the fire-place, rested
her hands upon the mantel-piece, and stood there
holding one bare white foot towards the extinct
fire as if to warm it.

Capel set down the candle and advanced towards

"YOU here! " 99

her, when once more she turned and came straight
towards him, and this time he took her in his arms
and kissed her quickly and passionately upon her
cheek and lips.

His arms dropped to his sides, though, for he
felt that she was icily cold, and as involuntarily he
j»ave place, and she walked slowly past him to the
open door, out on to the broad landing, and as he
caught up the candle and followed, he saw the tall
grey figure go slowly on up and up the stairs, and
when he followed it to the first landing it was on
the one above, going slowly on to the bedroom at
the end, through whose door it passed, and the
lock gave a low, soft click.

Paul Capel went back into the drawing-room,
feeling half stunned, and when he reached the
middle of the room he paused, candle in hand,
thinking.

Asleep ! " he said at last. " Asleep, and I
dared to take her in my arms like that I "

Then, with an involuntary shiver, the young man
turned quickly round, and went hastily up to his

room, to lie till morning, tossing sleeplessly from
.'side to side.

CHAPTER XVIL

THE TENTH NIGHT.

" JT might be," thought Capel, as he dwelt upon

the adventure of that night.

Katrine had descended to breakfast the next
morning, and he fancied she blushed slightly as he
pressed her hand ; but she looked so frankly in his
face that he could fiot but think that she was igno-
rant of what had taken place.

The days slipped by, and in company, by a pri-
vate understanding, Capel and the old lawyer

searched every article of furniture that could pos-
sibly have been made the receptacle of the lost
treasure.

" I'll help you, of course, my dear sir," said the
old man, " if you wish it ; but I really think we
shall do no good."

There had been several talks about breaking up
the party, but Capel, as host, had always begged
that his companions would stay, urging Mr. Girtie
to back him up by proposing that there should be
no change until the whole of the business of the
will was completed so far as the others were con-
cerned.

" I shall find my share at last," Capel said, laugh-
ingly. " And besides, I have the house."

lOO

THE TENTH NIGHT. lOI

One afternoon, when Artis had accompanied the
ladies for a drive, and the search was about to be
recommenced, Mr. Girtle sat down by his little
table in the drawing-room and said:

" I have a little news for you. Mr. Capel.

(( TTT-l- _ J_ 1 r ^1 i_l_ _ _1 1 »

it

tt

What, have you found the clue?

Not yet," said the old man, quietly; "but I

have found an angel. "

"A what?"

" An angel. You did not know we had one in

this house.

»)

" Indeed, but I did," cried Capel.

"Ah, yes," said the old man, looking at him
thoughtfully; " but Tm afraid we are not thinking
of the same."

*' Indeed, but we are," said Capel, warmly. " No
one who has seen Miss D'Enghien "

a

4(

Could hesitate to say that she is a very hand-
some woman." said the old lawyer, "but I was
referring to Miss Lawrence."

A lady for whom I entertain the most profound
esteem," said Capel.

"Which will be strengthened, sir, when I tell
you that she came to me and made a ^proposition
that "

The old lawyer's communication was checked by
the announcement of a'visitor for Mr. Capel, and
the doctor, Mr. Heston, was ushered in.

His visit was not productive of much, for he had
only to announce that he was more and more sure

I02 THE DARK HOUSE.

it

in his own mind that he was right, the result being
that Capel asked him to wait before taking any-
further steps, and Dr. Heston went away rather
dissatisfied in his own mind.

" If he does not follow up my proposals," he
said to himself, " I shall begin to think that he has
some reason of his own for keeping the matter
quiet.

The ladies returned directly the doctor had gone,
and Artis, in pursuance of his instructions, made
himself so agreeable to Capel that he did not leave
him alone with the old lawyer, while at dinner and
during the evening no opportunity" was likely to
occur for a private conversation.

" ril see you directly after breakfast to-morrow
morning, Mr. Capel," the old man said. " I should
prefer a quiet business chat with you, for the matter
is important.

I should like to have heard it at once," replied
Capel, " but as you will. "

Suspicion was very busy in the Dark House in
those days, for the butler had found that for several

nights past chamber candles had been burned down
in the sockets in one of the candlesticks, which
candlestick was left in the drawing-room, while a
tall candlestick was afterwards taken up to the bed-
room.

Preenham wanted to know why Mr. Capel, "or
the young master," as he termed him. should want

It

ti

THE TENTH NIGHT. IO3

to sit up so late, so he watched, and saw that,
night after night, he stayed down in the drawing-

i

room for hours. But he found out nothing, only
that the cold struck, even through the mat, from
the stone floor, and that he was chilly enough,
when he went to bed in his pantry, to require a
liqueur of brandy to keep off rheumatism and
similar attacks.

For Cape! had remained up after the others had
gone, night after night; blaming himself for be-
having in an unfair, unmanly spirit, but unable
to control the impulse which led him to long
for such another adventure as on that special
night.

But after a long day, night watches grow weari-
some to the most ardent lovers, and when, after
nine nights spent in expectancy, there was no re-
sult — no soft, gliding step heard upon stair or
floor, both Capel and Preenham grew weary, and
retired to their couches like the rest.

It was on the tenth night that Capel, instead of
going to bed at once, sat musing over the old law-
yer's words.

Then he began thinking of the doctor's visit,
and at last, taking out his watch, he saw it was
close upon two.

The hour made him think of the night when he
had encountered Katrine just at that time, and
moved by some impulse, he knew not what, he
went to his door, softly opened it, and gazed out

104 THE DARK HOUSE.

on to the gloomy staircase, where all was silent as
the grave.

No! There was the faint creak of a hinge that
had been opened, and, with his heart seeming to
stand still, Capel stood in the darkness listening,
till, utterly wearied, he was about to close his
door^ when, so softly that he could hardly dis-
tinguish the sweep of the dress, something passed
him, going straight to the stairs, and then he could
just hear whoever it was descend.

CHAPTER XVIII.

NOCTURNAL PROCEEDINGS.

TTTHERE was not a sound to be heard as Paul
-^ Capel stole softly down in his dressing-gown,
and, as he expected, the drawing-room door was
closed, but not latched.

Pushing it softly, feeling certain that Katrine, if
it was she, had entered there, he followed, and
went on and on, till he was about in the middle of
the room, and Ustening attentively.

He began to think that he must have been mis-
taken, when there was a faint rustle, and a heavy
breath was drawn, the sounds coming from the
lesser drawing-room.

He listened more intently, his heart beating
heavily, and a strange singing in his ears.

NOCTURNAL PROCEEDINGS. 105

Another sound as of something being touched.

The pen-tray on the Httle card-table where Mr.
Girtle sat and worked; and what was that?

Undoubtedly one of the keys that lay there.
Another and another was touched, and as they
were moved on the thin mahogany that formed the
bottom of the receptacle for cards the sound
seemed quite loud.

Then came a faint scraping sound, and he knew
as well as if he had seen it, that a key was taken
up.

Keys? Yes, there were several there which the
old lawyer used. Capel recalled that the key of
the plate closet had been placed there when Preen-
ham had handed it over.

He listened, but there was no further sound.
Yes ; the low breathing could be heard, and it
suddenly dawned upon Capel thaj: Katrine had
been approaching him — there she was close at
hand. He had only to stretch forth his arms and
the next instant she would have been folded to his
breast.

It was a hard fight, but he had read of a sudden
awakening under such conditions proving dan-
gerous.

As he listened there was a faint rustling as the
soft grey peignoir he knew so well passed over the
thick carpet towards the door; and if the listener
had any doubt, it was set aside by the light pat
that he heard — it was a hand touching the panel.

I06 THE DARK HOUSE.

Capel waited a minute, during which he heard
the dress sweep against the edge of the door, and
then the sound was quite hushed.

He knew what that meant, too ; the door had
been drawn to, and so he found it as he stepped
lightly there, opened it, and passed out on to
the great landing, where he strained his eyes
upward to try and make out the graceful draped
figure as it went up the winding staircase to the
bedroom.

It was not so dark there, for a faint gloom — it
could not be called light — fell from the great
ground-glass sky-light, at the top of the winding
staircase, like so much diluted darkness being
poured down into a well.

That great winding staircase suddenly seemed to
him full of horror, as he stood there. It had never
struck him before, but now, how terrible it seemed.
That balustrade was so low. Suppose, poor girl,
in her sleep, she should lean over it, and fall down
onto the white stones, where the black fretwork of
the glistening stove could be seen like a square
patch against the white slabs.

There was no reason for such fancies, but Paul
Capel's hands grew wet with a cold perspiration.

" I ought to have stopped her, and awakened her
at any risk," he said, as he still gazed up the great
staircase ; and then his heart seemed to stand still,
f^^r *Jiere was a faint click, as of a lock shot back.

NOCTURNAL PROCEEDINGS. lO^

and it came either from on a level with where he
Stood, or from down below.

In an instant he realized what had happened

Katrine had been to fetch the key of the lave

Coloners chamber, and had gone in there.

He hesitated a moment, and then, going close,

he softly touched the door, and felt it yield.

Just then there came a faint scratching noise,

and there was a gleam of light, showing him that

thp heavy curtain was drawn.

Then the light shone more clearly, and pressing
the door a little more open, he glided through.

He was about to peer out softly, when the light
was set down, he heard the soft rustle of the dress,
an arln was thrust round from the far side of the

curtain, and the door was carefully closed.

"The work of a spy," he said. But a slight
sound attracted his attention, and his curiosity
mastered all other feelings.

Gently sliding his hand into his pocket, he drew
out a penknife, and cut gently downwards, making
a slit a few inches in length.

This he drew slightly apart and gazed through,
to see that Katrine was standing with her back to
him, in the act of opening one of the large cabi-
nets at the side of the bed.

CHAPTER XIX.

BIRDS OF PREY.

TTTRAVELERS in Mayfair wiir have noticed
^ that every here and there old-fashioned, snug
looking hostelries exist in out-of-the-way places
at the corner of a mews, in a private street, where
they do not seem to belong; a»nd they are generally
kept by ex-butlers, who have taken wives, joined
their savings, and gone into business with the
brewers* help.

In the parlor of the " Four-in-Hand,'* Lower
Maybush street, a party of gentlemen^s servants
were playing bagatelle upon a bad board in a very
smoky atmosphere, while a knot of three men
sat at one of the old, narrow, battered mahogany
tables in a corner, drinking cold gin and water,
and smoking bad cigars.

One was a little sharp-eyed, round-headed man,

smartly dressed, and evidently rather proud of a

large gilt pin in his figured silk tie. Another was

tall and not ill-looking; he might have been a valet,

for there was a certain imitation gentility about his

cut — a valet whose master had been rather addicted

to the turf, and this had been reflected on his man

to the extent of trousers rather too tight, short

hair, and a horseshoe pin with pearl nails. The

third was rather a shabby-looking man of forty,

loS

BIRDS OF PREY. IO9

undoubtedly a gentleman's servant out of place,
carrying the sign in the front of the reason why,
in the shape of a nose unduly ripened by being
bathed in glasses of alcoholic drink.

" Knew him how long, did you say?" said the
tall man, tapping his chin with an ivory-handled
rattan-cane.

"Ten years, poor chap/* said the ex-servant.
" It was very horrid. "

" Here, never mind that," said the brisk little
man. "We don't want horrors. Touch the bell,
Dick. Come, old fellow, sip up your lotion, and
we'll have them filled again. That cigar don't
draw. Try one of these. Here! three fours of
gin cold," he cried t6 the landlord, and as soon as
the glasses were refilled, and cigars lighted, the
conversation went on, to the accompaniament of
rattling balls and laughter from the bagatelle
players.

"Well," said the tall man, in a low voice,
" you can do as you like, my lad, but I should
have thought that, hard up as you are, and I

should say without much chance of getting
another crib — say at present — you'd have been
glad to earn a honest quid or two. "

The shabby-looking man shook his head.

" Here, you're always putting on the pace too
much, Dick," said the little man. " A fellow wants
a little tinve. He's on, you see if he isn't. My

no tHE DARK HOUSE.

respects to you, Mr. Barnes. Hah! nice flavored
drop of gin that. "

" You see, you know the house well/* continued

the tall man. " Often been, of course?

" Oh, yes; had many a glass of wine there, when
poor Charles was alive.

" Rather a bit of mystery, that," said the little
man. " I put that and that together, and I set it
down that he was trying the job on his own ac-
count, and muffed it. "

The shabby man shuddered, and took a hearty
draught of his gin and water.

"There would be only us three in the game,"
said the tall man softly, ** and it would be share
and share alike. Why, if we worked it right, it
would set you up. Might take a pub on it."

" Eh? " said the shabby man.

" I say you might take a pub — and drink your-
self to death," was added aside.

The little man winked at his tall companion, un-
observed by the other, who looked dreamy.

" Bars at all the lower windows, eh? "

** Yes, yes. You couldn't get in there," was the
quick reply.

" More ways of killing a cat than by hanging it.
Look here, my lads, there's a stable to let in tihe
mews at the back. "

The shabby man looked up quickly.

** I had a look at it to-day. Any one could easily
get to that window looking on the leads."

BIRDS OF PREY. Ill

« T».- j_ j_t_ ^ 1 »^ i1_ - __ -^ J . _ t_ _ _ _ It

But that's the window where

" Well, dead men tell no tales, and they don't
get in the way. That's the place.

" Oh, no," said the shabby man.

" Bah! you're not afraid. I tell you it would be
as easy as easy. You can give me a plan of the
place, and all about it, and — why, it's child's play,
my lad, and won't hurt anybody. Take everything
out of that stable, and have a cart in the coach-
house. I say — touch that bell again, old man
you are not going to let a fortune slip through your
fingers, I know. "

The three occupants of the corner soon after rose
to go, halting half way down the street, where the
tall man said : —

There's half a sov. to keep the cold out till
then. Twelve o'clock, mind, punctual."

The shabby man slouched away, while the little
fellow rubbed his hands.

" There's half a ton of it there," he whispered.

"Think hell stand to it?"

" No fear, now we've got him over his fright. By
jingo, I'm only afraid of one thing."

"What's that?"

" That some one else will be on the job. "

t€

CHAPTER XX.

ASLEEP OR AWAKE?

T was a painful, and Paul Capel thought a degrad
ing position ; but he blamed his passion, telling
himself that it was his duty to watch her, in this
sleep-walking state, lest ill should befall.

How thoroughly awake she seemed to be. Her
every act was that of a person perfectly herself, and
eager to find something that was hidden.

Softly and quickly she examined the cabinet,
opening drawer after drawer, and taking out one
after the other, to see whether there was a concealed
cavity behind.

Next she knelt down before a large carved oak
chest, and Capel saw how carefully she searched
that, and examined top and bottom to see whether
either was false.

This done, she walked to the bed, and stood
pondering there. Crossing to the built-up portal,
she drew the curtain aside, revealing the half-dry
cement.

She shook her head, and walked to the window,
where she carefully rearranged the heavy folds there,
to keep the rays of light from passing out and be-
traying her task to any one who might be at the
upper windows of some house. The act displayed

112

ASLEEP OR AWAKE. 1 13

the working of a brain that, if slumbering, still
held a peculiar activity of an abnormal kind.

Once or twice he caught sight of Katrine's eyes,
that were not as he had seen them on that other
night, wide open, and staring straight before her,
but bright, eager, and full of animation.

"She must be awake," he thought; and the
idea was strengthened as he saw her throw herself
down upon a chair, and with a peculiar action of
her hands indicative of disappointment, rest her
elbows on her knee, her chin upon her clenched
fists, and there she bent down, her face intent, her
brows knit, and looking ten years older, as the
candle cast a curious shadow on her countenance.

Then the lover intervened on her behalf.

No; she could not be. To suppose that she was
awake was to credit her with being deceitful — with
cheating him into the belief that night that she
was asleep.

He was about to spring out, throw himself at
her feet, and waken her with his caresses, but a
chilling feeling of repulsion stayed him. It might
work' mischief in the terrible fright it would give
her at being awakened in that gloomy room. And
besides, what a place to select for his passionate
avowals. It was secret and silent, the very home
for such a love as his ; but there was the terrible
past.

Where she was seated, but a short time back,
there lay the ghastly body of the murdered man.

114 THE DARK HOUSE.

Behind her was the bed where so recently a strange
occupant was stretched, and beneath it lay that
other lately discovered horror. Beyond that built-
up wall was the Coloners tomb.

Love was impossible in such a place as that; and
did he want confirmation of the fact that Katrine
was a somnambulist, he felt that he had it here
before him. For no girl of her years would dare
to come down in the dead of the night, and enter
that room, haunted as it was with such terrible
memories.

He stood watching her as she crouched there,
looking straight before her, and as she suddenly
sprang up, and went to a picture painted upon a
panel in the wall, he found himself growing excited
by the fancy that, perhaps, in the clairvoyant state
of sleep, she might be able to discover the mystery
that had baffled them all.

He stood there wrapt in his thoughts, till he saw
her turn from the frame, that she had tried to
move in a dozen different ways, her fingers play-
ing here and there with marvellous quickness
about the corners and prominent bits of carving,
as if she expected that any one might prove to be
a secret spring.

Again she tried another picture ; darted to the
group of statuary in the corner, and tried to lift it
back, as if expecting that which she sought might
be hidden beneath it ; and again there was the

WHAT THE SOUND WAS. II5

movement, full of dejection and despair, as she
stood facing him with the light full upon her eyes.

She turned away, despondently ; and then
started upright, with her eyes flashing, and one
hand raised in the involuntary movement of one
who listens intently to some sound.

Had she heard something, or was it fancy — a
part of her dream ?

Paul Capel thought the latter, for, light as a
fawn, he saw Katrine dart across the room to where
the candle stood.

The next moment they were in total darkness.

CHAPTER XXI.

WHAT THE SOUND WAS.

FAINT rustle was plainly heard, as Capel
drew aside the curtain. Then the sound
ceased, but he felt that as he had taken a step to
the left, Katrine must be exactly opposite to him.
In another moment she would come forward and
touch him, for he could not move from his posi-
tion. If he stood aside she would pass him and
fasten him in the room.

He listened in the intense darkness, and could
just detect the short, hurried breathing of one who
was excited by dread.

Bnt as he listened in the darkness, clear now of

Il6 THE DARK HOUSE.

the heavy curtain, he heard another sound — a
peculiar scraping sound, that seemed to come from
outside the window.

It was that which had alarmed Katrine, and
made her extinguish the light.

The noise ceased. Then it was repeated, and
directly after, sounding muffled by the heavy cur-
tain, the window rattled a little in its frame, as if
shaken or pressed upon by some one outside.

The panting grew louder, there was a warm
breath upon Capel's cheek, and the next moment
he held Katrine in his arms.

She uttered a low cry of fear, and struggled to
escape.

"Hush!" he whispered. "You have nothing
to fear. Are you awake?"

There was no answer; only a vigorous thrust
from the hands placed upon his chest, and he felt
that she was trying to open the door, trembling
violently the while.

Katrine," he whispered, " why do you not trust
me? Wake up. There is nothing to fear."

He tried to clasp her in his arms again, but with
a quick movement she eluded him, and as he
caught at her again, it seemed as if the great cur-
tain had been thrust into his arms, for he grasped
that, and as he flung it away, the door struck him
in the face, and then closed, he heard it locked,
and the key withdrawn.

Then he stood listening, for the window rattled

li

WHAT THE SOUND WAS. 11/

again, and he wondered that the noise he had made
in his slight struggle with Katrine had not been
heard by whoever was on the sill.

There was a bell somewhere in the room; but if
he rang, and roused up the butler, the man would
be horrified at hearing his old master's bedroom
bell ringing in the dead of the night.

Even if that had not been the case, what excuse
could he make? And could he explain his position
to Mr. Girtle without making him the confidant of

all that had passed? And how could he relate to
any one that Katrine had been wandering about
the house in the middle of the night? What would
Mr. Girtle say? Would he think it was somnam-
bulism?

No; he could not ring. It was impossible; and
all the while there was that strange noise outside,
muffled by the curtain.

He walked cautiously through the intense dark-
ness towards the window, till he could touch the
curtain, and then, passing to the left, he softly
drew it a little inward, and looked out.

It was almost as dark out there as in; but there
was a faint glow from the lamps beyond the tall
houses that closed in the back, and against this he
could dimly see the figure of a man, standing on
the sill, while, more indistinctly and quite low
down, there were the heads and shoulders of two
more.

It seemed to him that the man standing on the

Il8 THE DARK HOUSE.

sill was trying to pass some instrument through
between the two sashes, so as to force back the
window-catch.

What should he do?

Give the alarm down stairs he could not, without
compromising Katrine.

Alarm the nocturnal visitors?

That would be to give up a chance of getting
hold of the clue.

What should he do?

Be a coward, or, now that the opportunity had
come, make a bold effort to capture these in-
truders?

Three to one. Yes; but he was in the fort, and
they had to attack, and could he secure one, brib-
ery or punishment would make him tell all.

There was the sound going on at the window,
which was resisting the efforts, and, with palpita-
ting heart and heavy breathing, Capel asked
himself the questions again. Should he be cow-
ardly, or brave, and make a daring effort to gain
that which was his, from the information these
people could give?

There was a grating and clicking still going on
as he stepped cautiously across the room, the
sound guiding him to the stand where his uncle's
old East India uniform and accoutrements were
grouped, and the next minute his hands rested
upon a pistol.

Useless, for it was old-fashioned and uncharged.

WHAT THE SOUND WAS. 1 19

That was better! His hand touched the ivory
hilt of the curved sabre.

For a time the blade refused to leave its sheath;
then it gave way a little, and he drew it forth, laid
the scabbard on the floor, passed his hand through
the wrist-knot, and thought that he would have to
strike liard, for a cavalry sabre is generally round-
edged and blunt.

t

As he thought of this, he touched the edge of
the sword with his thumb, to find that this was no
regulation blade, but a keen-edged tulwar, set in
an English hilt, and, armed with this, Paul Capel
felt himself fully a match for those who were
working away at the window, which did not yield.

Creak — Crack — Crack!

The catch flew back, and there was a pause,
during which Capel drew near with the blade
thrown over his left "shoulder, ready for delivering
the rirst cut at the man who entered.

Then the window gHded up, the great curtain
was drawn by an arm in his direction, partly cov-
ermg him, and a light flashed across the room.

CHAPTER XXIL

A BLANK ADVENTURE.

»)

TT7HE light played on the blade of the keen-edged
-*- sword, as if it were phosphorescent, but the
lambent quivering was not seen by the holder of
the lantern, who hid Capel with his own hand as
the Hght was flashed upon the bed and into the
corners of the room» and then turned off.

" All right, boys," was whispered, and a man
swung himself into the room. " Be quick, and shut
the window.

A second man crept softly in, and the third was
half in, when he slipped, threw out his hand to
save himself, struck against one of his companions
and drove him back against the curtain and upon
Capel.

"Light! Barkers! Some one here."

Capel heard the words, saw the flash, and struck
at the hand that held it.

The blade fell heavily upon the lantern and
dashed it to the floor, where it went out.

Raising the sword he struck again, but a,s he did

so, one of the men sprang at him, and the blow

that fell was upon the fellow's shoulder, and with

the hilt of the sword.

Capel was borne back by the man's fierce spring,

120

A BLANK ADVENTURE. 1^1

his feet became entangled in the curtain and he fell
heavily, with his adversary upon him.

" Quick* Morris," whispered a voice.

" No, no. Curse you. Shut the window. There's
only one. Where's your matches? Quick, light
the glim! Ah, would you? Lie still and bite that.
You just move again and Fll pull the trigger.'*

The barrel of a revolver had been thrust between
Capel's teeth, and as he lay back with the man on
his chest, half stunned, helpless and despairing, he
saw indistinctly the figure against the window,
heard the sash slide down, and the darkness was
complete as the cartain was drawn over the panes.
Then there was the faint streak of light as a match
was struck, the bull's-eye lantern wms picked up
and re-lit, and the bright rays once more played all
about the room.

The man who held it then went to the door and
listened.

"It's all right," he whispered. "You said
nobody can't hear what goes on in this room.
These curtains would suffocate a trumpet. Here,
you," he cried to the third man, '* don't stand
shivering like that. Take that carving-knife out of
his hand. Pull the trigger, Dick, if he stirs."

This to the man kneeling on Capels chest.

Capel lay absolutely powerless at that moment ;
but, as the third fellow caught him by the wrist,
the young man wrenched his head on one side, and
heaved himself up, so that he partially dislodged

122 THE DARK HOUSE.

the ruffian who held him down. At the same time
he swung the sabre round, driving the third back,
and striking the principal adversary so sharp a
blow that he slipped aside, and Capel leaped to his
feet.

At that moment the light was turned off, and
there was a rush made to get beyond his reach.

Capel also took advantage of the total darkness
to step back, but he held the weapon ready for a
cut, should an attack be made.

As he stood there, panting, a low whisper rose
from the direction of the door, and he just caught
its import, *' Give me the light."

There was a click directly after, and then from
about the ifiiddle of the room tne dazzling light of
tjie bull's-eye shone out full upon Capel as he
stood with upraised sword, while his assailants were
in the dark.

"Now, then," said the voice which he recog-
nized as that of the man who had held the pistol
to his mouth, " throw down that tool. "

" Give up, you scoundrel !" cried Capel. " You

can't escape."

" Can't we ?" said the man, between his teeth,
" More can't you. Now, then, will you throw
iown that sword ?"

** No,'* said Capel, furiously, " You've walked

into a trap, so give up.

}>

*' Go on, said the voice of the lesser man.

At that moment there was a bright flash ot

A BLANK ADVENTURE. I 23

light, a sharp report, and Capel felt a sensation as
if he had been struck a violent blow on the left
shoulder, which half spun him round, while the
round, glistening disc of light seemed to have
darted back to the side of the bed.

Half stunned, but full of fight, Capel turned and
made for the light once more, when there was an-
other flash, a quick shot, and this time the blow
seemed to have fallen on the top of his head, and,
stunned and helpless, the sword dropped from his
hand, and he fell on a chair, and from that on to
the floor.

*' You Ve killed him ! You Ve killed him !"
" Good job, too. Think I wanted my skin
turned into pork crackling with that sword ?
Hold yer row, will yer, or — "

" We shall be taken and hung. Oh, my arm !"
" Look here, my dear pal," said the little man;
" if you want to preach, just wait till this job's

yf

done. Throw the light on the door, Dick.

" I dunno which is doors and which is windows,
with all these curtains. Oh, that's it, is it? Quiet,
will you?"

f

it

He stood listening attentively.

" It's all right. There isn't a sound.

" Let's go then, at once. "

" What, empty? Not me, eh Dick? "

" 'Taint likely. Wait 'till I've got two more
cartridges in. That's it — Now then, business."

" But this poor fellow?

jf

124 THE DARK HOUSE.

" He's not killed, only quieted. Now, then, what
is there here?"

They made a hurried search of the room, but
with the exception of the silver tops of the bottles
of the Colonel's dressing-case, there was nothing
to excite their cupidity. Then Capel's pockets
were searched, but watch and purse were in his
chamber, while, though the Colonel's room was full
of costly objects, they were not of the portable
nature that would have made them valuable to the
men.

"Now then," said the tall man, quickly, " it's
of no use ; we must go down. Where are the
keys ? "

The little man took a bunch from the bag.

" But, suppose the old man's awake?" whispered
the shivering ex-servant, faint from his wound.

" Well, if he is, we must persuade him to go to
sleep, somehow, 'till we've done. Here, you come
and hold the light while I hand him the keys."

The trembling man took the lantern, while his
leader went down on one knee ; and as his little
ca-'ipanion handed him false keys and picklocks,
-ME. busied himself trying to open the door.

" Keep that light still, will you? " he cried
menancingly. " Why, you're making it dance all
over the door. I want it on the keyhole, don't I?"

Then the light shone full on the lock for a
minute or two, not more, for he who held it kept
turning his head to see if Capel was moving.

A BLANK ADVENTURE. 125

This brought forth a torrent of whispered oaths
from both men.

" Here, let me ave a try, " whispered the little
man. *' I can open it if you'll hold this blessed
glim still, I never see such a cur."

Then, in the coolest manner possible, he took
the other's place, and tried key after key, pick-
lock after picklock, and ended by throwing all into
the bag with a growl of disgust.

" It's one of them stoopid patents, " he cried.
" Here, give us a james. "

A strong steel crowbar in two pieces was
screwed together, and its sharp edge inserted
between the door and the post, but the great, solid
mahogany door stood firm, only emitting now and
then a loud crack, sharp as that given by a cart
whip, as the men strained at it in turn.

" Here, lets try a saw, Centrebit !"

A centrebit was fitted into a stock, and a hole
cut right through. Into this, after much greasing,
a keyhole saw was thrust, and, not without emit-
ting a loud noise, the work of cutting began, the
sawdust falling lightly on the lion's skin ; but at
the end of a few seconds a dull, harsh sound told
that the saw was meeting metal, and a fresh start
had to be made.

For fully two hours did the men work to get
through, boring and sawing in place after place,
but always to find that the door was strengthened

126 THE DARK HOUSE.

r>

in all directions with metal plates ; and at last the

task was given up,

" Look here," growled the leader of the party,
" that bed isn't used. I want to know how that
chap got in. He hasn't any key.

" Can't you get the door open, then?" said the
third man, after the other had shaken his head.

" Why, don't you see we can't ?'*

" But we shall get nothing for our trouble.

" Nothing at all," said the tall man, quietly.

"But

*' There, that'll do. First of all, you were so

»

)>

precious anxious to go. Now you know we can't
get down, your'e all for the job. I say, is this the

room where the murder was?"

" Yes ; don't talk about it. '*

" Why not ? We haven't done another. He'll
come round.

jf

l>

Jf

"What next, Dick?"

" Cut," was the laconic reply.

" When there's all that plate asking of us to make
up a small parcel and carry it away?

" Don't patter. Got all the tools?

" Yes. "

*' Then come along. "

The light was played upon Capel's insensible face
for a few moments, and then, to the intense relief
of the ex-servant, the lantern was placed in the
bag with the burglars' tools, and the window being
thrown open, one by one stole out, the last closing

WAITING FOR BREAKFAST. \2^

the window behind him, leaving Capel lying help-
less and insensible in the locked-up room.

CHAPTER XXIII.

WAITING FOR BREAKFAST.

<(

UCH a bright cheery morning, Lydia," said
Katrine, knocking at the bedroom door.

Oh, you are up. Breakfast must be ready.

ii

The two girls descended, to find that they, were

first.

j>

" Nobody down," cried Katrine, " and I am so
hungry. Oh, how wicked it seems on a morning
like this to keep out all the light and sunshine.

Just then, old Mr, Girtle came in, looking, as
usual, very quiet and thoughtful; and after a while
Artis came down, looking dull and sleepy. '

" Where *s the boss?" he said, suddenly.

"The what? — I do not understand you," said
the old lawyer.

" The master — the guardian of this tomb.
Where's Capel?"

" Oh," said the old lawyer. " Possibly the fine
morning may have tempted him to take a walk. "

" Are we going to wait for Capel?" said Artis.

" I'm so hungry, I feel quite ashamed," said
Katrine; " but I think we ought to wait,"

128 THE DARK HOUSE.

" There is nothing to be ashamed of in a healthy-
young appetite, my dear young lady," said the old
lawyer. *' I have been reading in my room since
six, and I should like to begin. I don't suppose he
will be long. Mr. Capel out, Preenham?"

" I think not, sir," said the butler, who was
bringing in a covered dish.

" Perhaps you had better tell him that we are all
assembled. He may have overslept himself. "

At the end of five minutes the old butler was
back to say that Mr. Capel had not answered
when he knocked.,

" He may be ill," said Lydia anxiously, and
then, catching Katrine's eye, she colored warmly.

Preenham gave Artis a meaning look, and that
gentleman followed him out.

" What is it?

»>

" Mr. Capel hasn't been to bed all night, sir,"
" Not been to bed all night, Preenham?" said

the old lawyer, who had followed. " Did you let
him out last night?"

"No, sir."

" Then how can he have gone out? I saw that
the door was fastened after you had gone to bed,
and it was still fastened when I came down at six. "

" And at seven too, sir," said the butler.

"He must be in the house," said Artis. "Go
and look round."

" Is Mr. Capel ill ? " said Katrine.

WAITING FOR BREAKFAST. I2g

"No, no, my dear, I think not," said the old

J9

lawyer. " Til go, too, and see.

" It is very strange," said Katrine, turning to
Lydia. who looked ashily pale. " I hope nothing
is the matter, dear. "

She seemed so calm that Lydia took courage and
returned to the breakfast-table, while, followed by
the old lawyer and Preenham, Artis examined the
dining-room and study, then ascended to the first
floor, tried the Colonel's door, found it fast, and
went on into the drawing-room.

" I tried that door,'* he said grimly, "because
that is the chamber of horrors. '*

" It is Jocked, and the key is in my table, " said
the old lawyer, and then they searched the other
rooms, finding Capel's watch, purse and pocket-
book, and looked at each other blankly.

" He must be out," said Artis.

" No, sir ; here's his hat and stick."

Artis stopped, thinking, and then bounded up
the stairs again to the Colonel's door.

"I thought so," he said. "There's something
wrong here. Look. " He pointed to several holes
through the mahogany door, the mark of a saw
scoring the panels, and the reddish dust on the
lion-skin mat. "Is any one here?" he cried,
^mocking. " I say ! Is any one here ? Pah !
Look at that ! "

He uttered a cry, almost like a woman, as he
pointed to a place where the lion-skin rug did not

I30 THE DARK HOUSE.

reach, and there, dimly seen by the gloomy light
thrown by the stained-glass window, was a little
thread of blood that had run beneath the door.

CHAPTER XXIV.

DOCTOR AND NURSE.

TT7HE old lawyer ran from the door with an alac-
^ rity not to be expected in one of his years,
and returned directly with the key that he had
found in his table.

" Give it to me," said Artis huskily, and snatch-
ing the key he tried to insert it, but his hand
trembled so that he did not succeed, and the next

*

moment he shrank away.

" Here, open that door, Preenham," he said.

" I daren't, sir, I daren't indeed. Ah, poor young
man! "

** Give me the key," said the old lawyer firmly,
and taking it, he tried the door, to find that the
lock had been tampered with, so that it was some
minutes before he cc uld get it to move.

Hadn't I better fetch the police, sir? " faltered

a

the butler.

"No; stop," said the old lawyer, turning the
handle. *' There is some one against the door. "

He pushed hard, and with some effort got it
open so that he could have squeezed in.

DOCTOR AND NURSE. I31

" It is all dark," he said, " No it is the curtain,"
and forcing his way through, he drew back the
hangings from the window.

a

It's poor Capel — dead! " whispered Artis, who
yiad followed. " Here, Preenham, come in," he
cKed angrily. " Oh, how horrible — poor lad ! "

' The lawyer saw the naked sword lying on the
<:arpet; that the drawers and cabinet had been ran-
sacked ; and that the window was not quite shut
down.

He took this in at a glance as he ran to where
Capel lay close to the door, where he had dragged
himself sometime during the early hours of the
morn, to lie exhausted after vainly trying to raise
the alarm.

" He*s dead, sir, dead! " groaned the butler.

" Hush! " cried the old lawyer harshly. " He's
not dead, Mr. Artis, you are young and active.
Quick. That doctor, Mr. Heston. You know
where he lives. You, Preenham, brandy. Stop.
Tell the ladies Mr. Capel is ill. Nothing more.
Don*t spread the alarm.

" Is anything very serious the matter? " said a
voice at the door.

*' Yes — no, my dear. Go away now, "cried the
old lawyer, " Mr. Capel is ill.

*' There is something terribly wrong again," said
a deeper voice, and, white as ashes and closely
followed by Katrine, Lydia came in.

>>

>>

132 THE DARK HOUSE

She tittered a faint cry, and then wrested her-
self from Artis, who tried to stop her.

"No," she cried, i-mperiously, changed as it
were in an instant from a shivering girl into a
thoughtful woman. " Quick : go for help. Mr.
Girtle, what can I do ?"

" Yes, let me help too," said Katrine. *' Whc^t
is it; has he tried to kill himself?"

" No," cried Lydia, turning upon her fiercely.
" He was too true a man. "

" I'm afraid there has been an attempt made
by burglars," said the old lawyer, "and that our
young friend' has been trying to defend the place ;
but — but he was locked in here — the key was in
my table — and — and — I'm afraid I'm growing
very old — things seem so much confused now.

He put his hand to his head for a few moments
and looked helplessly from one to the other. Then
his customary sang froid seemed to have returned.

"This is not a sight for you, ladies," he said
" Pray go back. "

" I am not afraid, Mr. Girtle," said Katrine,
with a slight shudder as she looked eagerly about
the room.

For her answer, Lydia took water from the
washstand, and began to bathe the blood-smeared
face, kneeling down by Capel's side.

Just then Preenham entered with decanter and
glass, the former clattering against the latter, as he
poured out some cf the contents.

DOCTOR AND NURSE. 133

Holding a little of the brandy to Capel's clenched
teeth, Mr. Girtle managed to trickle through a
few drops at a time, while Lydia continued the
bathing, and Katrine stood, like some beautiful
statue, gazing down at them with wrinkled bro\^'
and clasped hands.

By this time, the knowledge that something was
wrong had reached the women-servants, and they
had both come to the door.

"No, no; keep them away, Preenham,** said
Mr. Girtle, in answer to offers of assistance. "You
go down, too, and be at the door, ready to let the
doctor in."

" Yes, sir, I will," said the old butler, piteously ;
" but my young master — will he live ?"

*' Please God !" said the lawyer simply.

'* But he is not dead, sir ?"

There is your answer, man," said Mr. Girtle, for
just then Capel utter a low moan.

The old butler bent down on one knee, and
Lydia darted at him a grateful look, as she saw him
lift and press one cold hand, and then, laying it
down, he rose, and went out of the room on tip-toe,
raising his hands and his face towards Heaven.

" Was he stabbed — with that sword? " said Lydia,
in a hoarse whisper.

" No, I think not. The doctor must soon be here, "
was the reply.

In fact, five minutes later there was a quick knock

134 THE DARK HOUSE.

at the door, and Dr. Heston hurried in, followed by
Artis.

** Give me the room," he said quickly. " Ladies,
please go.

Katrine turned slowly, and glanced at Lydia.

" I may stay, Doctor Heston," she said. " I may

»»

be of use. "

" No words now/' li^ said, sharply. " By-and-by
you will be invaluable. Well there, stay."

He had thrown off his coat and rolled up his
sleeves as he spoke, and as Lydia bent her head
and stood waiting, Katrine left the room. Then
the deft-handed medico was busy with his exam-
ination.

" Head literally scored with a bullet," he said.

" Not a cut?" whispered Mr. Girtle, pointing to
the sword,

" Bless me, no. Scored by a bullet. An inch
lower — hallo ! What have we here?"

He took out a knife and cut through the cJothes,
where he could not draw them away from where the
blood had oozed out just below the left shoulder.

" Hah ! Yes ! Bullet. Entered here; passed ouL
No ! Here it is. Just below the skin,"

He had raised the sufferer, and found that the
bullet had passed nearly through, and was visible
so near the surface that a slight cut would have
given it exit.

. " Nothing vital touched, I think," said the doctor,
busying himself about the wound in the shoulder.

>>

DOCTOR AND NURSE. I3S

"Ah! That's right, madam. Nothing like a woman's
hand, after all, about a sick man. Why, this must
have happened hours ago.

The doctor chatted away, quickly, but his hands
kept time with his voice. He had laid down a
small case of instruments with a roll of linen, and
turning from the arm once more, he rapidly clipped
away the hair," and dressed the wound in the head,
a wound so horrible that Artis shuddered, turned to
the brandy decanter that the old butler stood hold-
ing with a helpless, dazed look, and poured out a
good dram, while Lydia knelt there, very pale, but
calmly holding scissors, lint or strapping, to hand
as they were required.

" Now for the bullet," said the doctor in a cheer-
ful, airy way. " Mr. Artis, just lend a hand here.
Or, no; you look upset. Put down that decanter,
butler ! This isn't a dinner-party. That's right.
Now kneel down here."

He softly raised Capel, and placed him in a
convenient position before turning to Lydia.

" Really, I think you would prefer to go now? "

The girl's lips seemed to tighten and she shook
her head.

"As you please;" said the doctor testily. *' I
have no time to waste. A little back, Mr. Girtle;
I want all the light I can have. Yes, that's plain
enough," he muttered, as with one hand resting
on the injured man's shoulder where the bullet
made quite a little lump, he stretched out the

136 THE DARK HOUSE.

other, and from where it nestled in the case, fitted
amongst so much ourple velvet, he took out a small
knife.

There was a pleasant look of satisfaction in the
doctor's face, as he took out the knife, but the
next moment he turned with an angry flash upon
Lydia.

It was the natural instinctive act of one who
loves seeking to protect the object loved. For as
Dr. Heston took the knife in his hand, Lydia's eyes
dilated, and she leaned forward, caught the doctor's
arm, and gazed at the keen little blade with dilated
eyes.

*' My dear young lady, are you mad? " cried the
doctor, testily.

She raised her eyes to his in a look so full of
appeal, that he could read it as easily as if she had
given it with the interpretation of words.

He was not accustomed to argue in a case like
this, but the girl's loving attempt to protect the
insensible man, touched him to the heart ; and
dropping his sharp, imperious J^manner, he said
gently :

** But, don't you see? It is to do him good. "

Lydia's hand trembled, but she still grasped the
doctor's arm.

"Come, come," he said, smiling, "You must
not be alarmed. D6 you want the bullet to stay
in and irritate the whole length of the wound? "

_ t

She gave her head a sharp shake.

DOCTOR AND NURSE X37

"Well, then, be sensible, my dear girl. There,
get me a bit of lint," he continued, " and you shall
see how easily and well I will do this. That's bet-
ter. Why, taking a tooth out is ten times worse.
This is a mere trifle. There, that's a brave little
woman. He will not even feel it."

Lydia's hand had dropped from the doctor's arm,
and she drew a long breath, watching him as if her
eyes were drawn to his knife, while he bent over
Capel.

In a few minutes more the patient was lifted
upon the bed, and Lydia stood there with her
hands clasped in dread, for it seemed ominous
to her that Capel should be compelled to lie
there.

" Can he not be taken up to his room ? "

*' No, my brave little nurse, no. It would have
been extremely nice for him, but what he requires
now is absolute rest and quiet. Come, come.
You are too strong-minded a little woman to be
superstitious. Go where you will, in old houses,
there has generally been a death in some of the
bedrooms ; but believe me, that does not affect the
living. Why, if that were the case, what should
we do at the hospitals ? You are going to install
yourself here, then, as nurse ? That's right. Let
my instructions be carried out, and Til come in

again at noon."

Whispered conversation went on all through the
house that day, but though there had been the

it

138 THE DARK HOUSE.

attempt at burglary, Mr. Girtle hesitated about
calling in the police again, and on consulting the
doctor, he quite agreed that it would be better not
to have them there.

" It will only disturb my patient," he said, *'and,
depend upon it, with a light and people sitting up,
the scoundrels will not come again. "

Well," said Mr. Girtle, " we will not communi-
cate with the police at present. "

The doctor came in at one, and again at five ;
and, on leaving, looked rather serious.

" If he is not different to this at about nine,
when I come in again, I'll get Sir Ronald Macken-
zie to see him. I'll warn him at once that he may
be wanted. "

" Then you think his case serious ? "

" Brain injuries always are.

At nine o'clock, when the doctor came, his man-
ner startled Lydia, who had patiently watched the
sufferer all day.

>»

tt

Yes," he said ; " I will have Sir Ronald's opin-
ion. I shall be back in half-an-hour. "

He left the room and hurried down-stairs, while
Lydia bent down and laid her cheek against the
patient's burning hand. He was delirious now,
and talking loudly and rapidly.

" Yes, it is there," he kept on saying. " Count
four stones from the left, press on the fifth, and it
will swing around. I have it safely — do you hear?

safely.

ti

HIGH WORDS. 139

This went on over and over again, and as Lydia
listened, something, she knew not what, made her
turn her head, when it seemed to her that one of
the bed curtains trembled, and that, in the gloom,
a hand was softly drawing one back, that the sick
man's words might be more plainly heard.

CHAPTER XXV.

HIGH WORDS.

T raOOKING again in the direction of the hand,
•^ but telling herself that it was fancy, Lydia sat
down to wait anxiously for the doctor's return,
while Capel went on, talking more or less incoher-
ently.

" You know I love you," he said softly.
"Katrine — darling — you will be my wife. Let
the world go its own way, what is it to us? "

Lydia's head sank lower, as the tears of misery
began to fall fast.

" The treasure," he cried, suddenly. " Ha — ha

ha! Let them search for it — months — years.
They will never find it. I have it safely. Here.
I'll tell you."

He beckoned with his finger as he talked on,
rapidly; and as Lydia raised her saddened coun-
tenance, she saw that he was gazing at vacancy and
gesticulating with his free hand.

I40 THE DARK HOUSE.

"Yes; 111 tell you," he said. "Let the fools
hunt. They'll never find it. Well? Why not?
It is mine. Look. You count along here — do
you see — one, eight, six, now press in the key.
There is a spring. Press it home and turn. The
door opens and there it is. For you, dearest — the
jewels are all your own."

As he went on talking rapidly, the curtain moved
softly again, and this time Lydia felt that it was
no trick of the light or wind, and, rising from her
seat, she went softly round to the other side of the
bed, took hold of the curtain and swept it aside, to
leave Katrine standing there in the faint light shed
by the shaded lamp.

" What are you doing here? "

" I came to see if I could help you."

" And glided in like a thief, to hide there, listen-
ing to his words. What is it you want to know?
Was it to hear him sav he loved vou? '

Lydia, with her face full of scorn.

whispered

it

}f

" I do not understand you.

" You do understand. And it was not for that.
You have heard him whisper to you — no — waste
upon you loving words enough.

" Really," said Katrine, who had recovered from
her temporary confusion , consequent upon the
abrupt discovery of her presence. " Surely, my
darling little Lydia is not jealous?

it

" Jealous? Of you? " said Lydia, scornfully.

HIGH WORDS. 141

" No; I am only sorry that he should have been so
blind."

" To your incomparable charms?"

'' No; to the character of the beautiful
woman "

a

Beautiful?"

" Yes; beautiful woman, whose character "

" How dare you!" cried Katrine, and she struck

the brave girl a sharp blow across the face with

her open hand.

"Beautiful as you are corrupt and cruel," said

Lydia, without wincing. " I have not been blind.

I have seen your efforts to lead him on — to tempt

him into the belief that you loved him, when your

sole thought has been of the money that was to be
his. "

" It is false," cried Katrine.

" It is true. I would not stoop to watch you,
but I have seen enough to know you. Go back to
your companion — the man who plots and plans
with you to gain what you will never find, and do
not "

" Do not what?" cried Katrine, with a malignant
look.

Lydia did not reply, but hurried back to where
Capel was trying to raise himself up, trembling the
while, as he gazed towards the window.

"Look," he said harshly. "There. Don't
stop, Katrine, love. There is danger. Don't stop

now. "

142 THE DARK HOUSE.

Katrine's face wore a strange waxen hue, as skc
caught the sick man's hand.

The painful position was brought to an end Ly
the coming of the doctors. Katrine's quick ear
was the first to give her warning of their approach,
and without another word she softly left the room,
stealing away so quietly that when Dr. Heston en-
tered, ushering in the great physician, Lydia hardly
realized that she was alone.

"Still the same," said Dr. Heston. "Humph,
yes. My dear madam, will you permit. me?"

Lydia looked piteously in his face, losing her
self-command the while, as Heston led her from the
room, and closed the door, while as she heard it
locked on the inside and the sound of the rings
passing over the rod, she sank down sobbing on
the lion-skin rug, burying her face in her ha^ids,
and ignorant of the fact that she was being
watched.

CHAPTER XXVI.
capel's nurses.

" TTT^^S '^ your doing, Dr. Heston/* said Mr.
A Girtle, returning to the dining-room, indig-
nantly, with a card in his hand.

He had been seated at lunch with the doctor,
Katrine, and Artis, when Preenham had entered
the room, to say that a gentleman wished to see
him on important business.

" I dare say it is, said the doctor, "but what
have I done?"

" We — the family — had decided to refrain from
communication with the police, so as not to draw
attention to the peculiar circumstances that have
taken place in this house, and I agreed somewhat
unwillingly, knowing Mr. Capel's feelings as to
what has gone before. "

" Well," said the doctor, coolly, for the old man
seemed to have lost his self-control.

" No, sir, it is not well. Someone' has com-

municated with the police. "

He held out the card in his hand, and Katrine
winced, while Artis gave her an uneasy look.

" No work of mine, my dear sir; my hands are
too full of my patient. Surely he does not

say

H3

>>

144 THE DARK HOUSE.

" No, no," said Mr. Girtle, hurriedly. " I have
not seen him yet. I was so angry that I returned
at once. I really beg your pardon, but all this
trouble has rather taken me off my balance.

He nodded, and left the room, and Katrine
glanced at the doctor.

" Over- work and anxiety, my dear madam, '
he said. " I shall have to give him a little ad-
vice. Now, If you will excuse me, I'll go up-
stairs."

" But doctor," cried Katrine; " is Mr. Capel
really better?"

" It is hardly just to call him better while this
delirium continues; but you know what Sir Ron-
ald said."

He went out of the dining-room, and ascended
the stairs, leaving Katrine with Artis,

it

ti

»

Where are you going?" said the latter,
" Up to Capel's room,"

"What, again?"

" Yes," she said, " again.

" But what have you found out?

"Wait and see."

" Wait and see? I'm sick of it all," he cried,
angrily. " I feel as if I were buried alive, and
to make matters worse, youVe always away.
Look here, I don't like your going and nursing
that fellow."

"You stupid boy!" she said softly; and she

capel's nurses. 145

turned upon him a look that made him catch her
in his arms and press his lips to hers.

For a few moments she made no resistance, but
seemed to be returning his caress. Then, with
an angry wrench, she extricated herself from his
grasp.

" How dare you !" she cried.

" How dare ? Oh, come, that's good.

»>

" You are acting like a fool !"

She sailed out of the room just as Preenham
opened the door, and as he drew back for her to
pass, Artis threw himself into a chair, while
Katrine slowly ascended the stairs, listening in-
tently to the low murmur of voices in the library.

A (gw minutes before, the quiet, grave-looking
professional nurse had ascended to the sick room
from the housekeeper's room, where she had just
partaken of her dinner, and found, as she entered,
silently, Lydia on her knees by the bedside, with a
straight bar of light from the window throwing her
into bold relief against the dark curtains.

The nurse advanced softly, and glanced at
Capel, who seemed to be sleeping easily, and then
lightly touched Lydia on the shoulder.

" Asleep, miss ?" she said.

Lydia raised her white face, haggard and livid
with sleeplessness and anxiety.

"No," she said softly, as she let herself sink
into the low chair at the bed's head. " No, not
asleep. "

146 THE DARK HOUSE.

"But you are quite done up, miss," said the
nurse. " Now, pray do go and lie down for a few
hours. He is better, I'm sure of it. I do know,
indeed. IVeseenso much of this sort of thing.
I was in the French hospitals all through the war. '*

*' But, are you sure ?"

" I'm quite certain, miss. Now, you can't go on
like this. You must have rest. Take my advice,
and go and have a good sleep, and then you can
come and watch again. *'

"But if "

" If anything happens, miss, Til call you.
" You promise me ?"

t>

" Faithfully, niiss. There, trust to me."

Lydia had risen, and she tottered as she took a
step or two, when the nurse caught her in her
arms, and the poor girl's strength gave way entirely
now.

The nurse's confident words tha«t Capel was
getting better, robbed her of the last bond of
self-control, and, as the woman tenderly sup-
ported her, and whispered a few soothing words,
Lydia's head went down on the nurse's breast,
and she burst into a low, passionate fit of hyster-
ical tears.

"There, you'll be better now," whispered the
nurse, as Lydia raised her piteous white face.
" Now go and have a few hours' sleep. "

Lydia nodded, recovered her self-command, and

i <f

capel's nurses. 147

went to the bed, bent over and gazed earnestly in
the patient's face, and then left the room.

" Poor dear ! " said the nurse, after a glance at
the patient, " how she does love him ! Ah, miss,
how you made me jump! "

Did I, nurse ? " said Katrine. *' I was obliged
to come in gently. How is he?

"Better, miss, I think."

" That's well. You look very tired, nurse."

" Me, miss? Oh, dear, no."

" But your strength ought to be saved for nights.
I can't watch at night — I get too sleepy; but I can
now, and I'll take your place."

" Do you really wish it, miss? "

*' Yes. Please," said Katrine, firmly; and the
woman quietly left the room, to take no walk, but
to go up to the chamber set apart for her use,
and, from long habit in catching rest when it could
be found, she threw herself upon her bed, and was
soon breathing heavily — fast asleep.

In the adjoining room lay Lydia, with her eyes
closed, hour after hour, but painfully awake. No
sleep would come to her weary brain, which seemed
to grow more terribly active as the time rolled on.
She told herself that her love for Capel was mad-
ness. Then hope tortured her with the idea that
he might turn to her, while her indignant maiden
nature bade her forget him and show more pride.
" But he is poor," Hope seemed to say ; " his for-

148 THE DARK HOUSE.

tune IS goae, and you are comparatively wealthy.
Wait, and he will love you yet. '*

There was a hopeful smile dawning upon her lips,
as she softly left her room, and went dcwn the
stairs, with a feeling of restful content in her breast,
and then her heart seemed to stand still, and a
horrible feeling of self-reproach attacked her as she
felt that she had left her post just as some terrible
crisis had been about to happen.

For there, at the door where she had crouched in
agony, waiting to know the great physician's ver-
dict, now stood Gerard Artis, gazing in as he held
it partly open.

Lydia was as if turned to stone for the moment.
Then the reaction came, and she quickly ran to the
door, to lay her hand upon Artis's shoulder.

He turned upon her a face distorted with jealous
rage, and then his countenance changed, and, in-
dulging in a malicious laugh, he drew on one side.
i:olding the curtain back, and pointed mockingly to
the scene withi©.

CHAPTER XXVII.

AN ENCOUNTER.

NE swift glance, and then, without noticing
Artis, Lydia glided into the room.

She had seen her hope crushed, and that she
must never dream again of that happy future.
She had not slept, but she had left her post, and
while she had been absent another had stolen that
last hope.

For, after lying sleeping calmly and peacefully for
an hour, Capel heaved a long sigh, and at last he
opened his eyes, in a quiet, dreamy way, gazing at,
but apparently not seeing, Katrine, a^ she knelt
there in the light cast by the window.

Then she saw a look of intelligence come into
his face, and he spoke in a quiet and eager, though
feeble tone.

"What is it? Why — why am I here? Don't

don't speak. Yes, I know. Oh, Katrine, my
love, my love! "

He raised his feeble arms, till they clasped the
beautiful neck as she bent down over him, and her
head rested upon his pillow, side by side with his;
her soft dark hair half hid his pale cheek, and he
was whispering feebly his words of gratitude, as
Lydia slowly advanced into the room, and, un-
noticed by either, she laid her soft, white hand

149

ISO THE DARK HOUSE.

upon Katrine's shoulder, gripping it with a nervous
force of which she herself was ignorant.

Katrine started up, flushed, her eyes sparkling
with light, and a look of triumph coming into her
face, as she saw who was there.

" Mr. Capers condition will not permit of this
excitement," said Lydia, in a cold, harsh voice.
" Doctor Heston's orders were that he should be
kept quiet."

That afternoon, when Mr. Girtle entered the
library, he found a plainly-dressed man awaiting
him — a man who, save that he gave the idea of
having once been a soldier, might have passed for
anything, from a publican to an idler whose wife
let lodgings, and made it unnecessary for him to
toil or spin.

" Morning, sir. You had my card, I see. IVe
called about the attempt made here the other
night. "

$>

f>

9f

" Attempt?

" Yes, sir; the burglary.

" How did you know there was an attempt?

*\0h, we get to know a little, sir. We're a
body of incompetent men that every one abuses,
but we find out a few things a year,

" You heard of this, then?"

" Yes, sir, and we were a bit surprised that you
didn't communicate with us. Seems strange, sir.*'
Strange, yes, my man, but have we not had

i>

tt

horrors enough?"

AN ENCOUNTER. 151

9f

97

JJ

*' Yes, sir, but

"Well," said Mr. Girtle impatiently, "you
have heard of it, then? What do you wish to do?"

" See the place, sir. Who is it that nearly
killed that poor fellow?"

" How did you know that some one did?"

Mr. Girtle's visitor laughed a quiet little laugh.

" Oh, we know, sir. He*s horribly bad.

" No; decidedly better.

** No, sir. I was at the hospital this morning,
and they don't think he'll live the day. He has let
it all out. "

" Look here, my man, we are confusing mat-
ters, " said Mr. Girtle.

" Why, youVe got a wounded man here?"

" Yes. There, my good fellow, I suppose you
must know all, now.

" I suppose we must, sir," said the officer, with
a grim smile. " Strange that you should so soon
have another trouble here.

))

»j

" But you have not told me your informant.**

" Oh, there's no secret about it, sir. Servant
chap went to the bad, and lost his character. Old
friend of your footman here who was killed. He
picks up with a couple of regular cracksmen, and
tells all he knows about the house, and they put
up the job."

"Yes, yes. I see. Well?"

" They get in, and catch a Tartar, for this chap
was cut down by some one here, and his mates got

n

152 THE DARK HOUSE,

him away to a wretched hole, where the people
were so frightened that they gave information to
the police that a man was dying on their premises.
Police took him to the hospital, and when he
found out how bad he was, he made a clean breast
of it all. That's it, sir. Plain as A, B, C.

Mr. Girtle sat looking at the officer, curiously.

'* Do you think," he said at last, " that these men

committed the other robbery?"

The detective's eyes twinkled, but not a muscle

moved.

" I should think it about certain, sir."

" Have you got the man's companions?"

" Yes, sir, both of them, safe enough."

" Then as this man confessed one thing, I dare

say he will the other. He is dying, you say ? "

*' Yes, sir, no doubt about it ; not so much from
the sword cut, as from bad health — drink, and the

like.

>»

'* Then he must be seen to-day — at once, man.
We may get to know from him where they have
disposed of the treasure. ' Such a large sum."

" Yes, sir," the officer, quietly, taking out a note
book. " Now, don't you think, sir, you being a
solicitor, it would have been better to let us do our
work, and you do yours ?"

" What do you mean, sir ?"

" Only this, sir, that here's another thing.
You've had a tremendous robbery here before,

AN ENCOUNTER. 153

and weVe known nothing about it till this minute,

when you let it all out. "

Mr. Girtle gave his knee an impatient blow.

" Yes, sir, you let it out. When did it happen?"

" At the time of that terrible affair in the house.

You remember ?"

" Yes, sir, I took a good deal of notice of it at
the time, sir^; but I had nothing to do with the
case. So a lot of money was taken, then ?"

Mr. Girtle nodded.

" I am not at liberty to say more. Mr. Capel
would not have the search made. "

" If you*ll excuse me, sir, I'll give you another
look in. Perhaps, to-morrow, youll let me go
over the place."

He went away hurriedly, and straight off to the
hospital, where he had a long interview with the
sick man, obtaining all the information from him
that he could, before compelled by the poor
wretch's weakness to cease the inquisition.

" A tremendous big sum, eh ?" said the officer,
to himself. " I should like to have the finding of
that. They might be a bit generous to a man. "

CHAPTER XXVIII.

MR. PREENHAM'S visitor.

TT7HERE was a kind of civil war carried on at the
^ old house over the nursing back of Paul Capel
to health. He suffered much, but a strong consti-
tution and youth were fine odds in his favor, and he
recovered, after passing the crisis, rapidly and well.

And during these days Lydia suffered a martyr-
dom, seeing, as she did, how Katrine took advant-
age of Capers weakness to tighten his bonds.

The detective came, as he had promised, and
saw the room and the window, making notes and
a drawing thereof, and then going to the mews at
the back, where he satisfied himself as to the means
by which access had been obtained.

The evidence of Paul Capel was taken by a mag-
istrate at his bedside, as he was certified as unfit to
be moved; and in due time the law meted out its
punishment upon the two criminals left; but the
detective was not at peace.

The officer, who boasted of the name of Linnett,

was a very sleuth-hound in his ways, and he came
upon Mr. Girtle at •all manner of unexpected times

while he was waiting for Paul Capel's return to
health, and tried to get information from him, with-
out avail.

«54

MR. pkeenham's visitor. 155

" Must have been a bit of imagination on the old
man's part," said Mr. Linnett. *' Some of these
old fellows — half-cracked, as a rule — believe that
they are extremely rich. I don't know, though.
Old boy was very rich. Wonderful ! What a house !
That young chap might very well be satisfied with
what he has got."

In this spirit the detective turned his attention
to the doctor, approaching him with a bad feeling
of weakness, and not being satisfied with the dictum
of the divisional surgeon.

" He laughs at it, you see, sir," said Linnett, in
the doctor's consulting room; " but I'm bad."

" Yes, yes. I see what is the matter with you,
my man," said Heston. *' I'll soon set you all
right. "

" Lor', what humbugs doctors are," said the de-
tective, looking at his prescription, as he went away.
" I suppose I must take this stuflT, though, before I
go and see him again."

" Curious thing, nature," said Heston, as soon as
the detective had gone ; " that man thinks he's ill,
and there's nothing whatever the matter with him.
Fancy, brought on from hard thought and work."

The doctor was wiser than the detective thought;
but in future visits the latter obtained a good deal
of information, among which was the doctor's
theory that Ramo, the old Indian servant, had not
died entirely from the struggle with Charles Pillar.

4€

»

156 THE DARK HOUSE.

It was just about that time that Gerard Artis
swore an oath.

That old Mr. Girtle took Lydia's hand gently be-
tween his, and said tenderly:

" No, no, my child. You must not go. I am
very old, and if you were to go now, it would be
like taking the light out of my life. I know all;
I am not blind. But wait. "

Lydia shook her head.
If you love him, my child, wait. It may be to
save him, and you would sacrifice yourself to do
that.

And that Mr. Linnett went out of the area of
the great gloomy house, laughing to himself, and
casting up his total, as he termed it.

" Ha! ha! ha!" he exclaimed; " only to think of
them knocking their heads about here and there,
and never so much as getting warm. Detectives
are all fools, so the public say. Blind as bats.
They want a better class of men. "

* He treated himself to a thoroughly good cigar,
and rolled out the blue clouds of smoke as he
strode along, wagging his umbrella behind him.

" Always through all these years running down
rogues! What a temptation to a man. to make a
change and go the other way. Million and a half
o' money, in a shape as could be carried in a small
black bag. Why. I could put my hand on it, and
go and set up somewhere as a king, and never be
found out. Shall I?"

THE PARTY BREAKS UP. 157

It was quite dark, and Mr. Linnett took a pair
of handcuffs from his pocket, and tucking his um-
brella under his arm, playfully fitted them on his

own wrists.

No," he said; " they wouldn't look well there.

is

CHAPTER XXIX.

THE PARTY BREAKS UP.

'^ O INNER over, of course, Preenham? "
*-' " Oh, dear, yes, sir," said that worthy,

taking Artis's hat and cane. " Carriage was

ordered for half-past seven, and they've gone to the

theatre, sir."
" Gone where? "
"Theatre, sir — Haymarket, sir.

»

*' Why, Preenham "

" It was Mr. Girtle, sir, proposed it. Said it
would be a pleasant change for everybody. The
carriage was ordered, and dinner an hour sooner."

" The sky will fall next," said Artis, with a
sneering laugh. " Bring me some coffee in the
library, and — no, some brandy and soda and the
cigars. "

" Yes, sir. Miss D'Enghien's in the drawing-
room, sir. Had a bad headache, and didn't go."

" Why didn't you say that at first? " cried Artis;
and he went up two stairs at a time, to find Katrine

IS8 THE DARK HOUSE,

in the act of throwing herself into a chair, and
looking flushed and hot.

" You here? " she said, wearily.

" My darling! " he cried. " If I had only known.
At last!"

He threw himself at her feet, clasped her waist,
and drew her half resisting towards him, while
before a minute had elapsed, her arms were resting
upon his shoulders, and her eyes were half closed
in a dreamy ecstasy, as she yielded to the kisses
that covered her face.

Suddenly, with a quick motion, she threw him
off.

" Quick — some one," she whispered.

Her ears were sharper than his, and she had
heard the dull rattle of the door handle.

"I don*t know what to take." she said, in a
weary voice ; " I suppose it will not be better
before morning. "

" I have taken the brandy and soda into the
library, sir," said Preenham. " Would you hke it
brought up here? "

"To be sure," he cried. "The very thing for
your headache. Bring it up, Preenham."

" You madman! " cried Katrine, angrily. "You
take advantage of my weakness for you. Another

moment, and we should have been discovered.
No, no; keep away."

M

Miss is as good as a mile."

THE PARTY BREAKS UP. I $9

" You grow more reckless, every day. We
must be careful. "

" Careful! Tm sick of being careful. "J

"Hush!"

The butler entered with a tray and the brandy
and soda.

" Open it, sir? "

" Yes. Two. Now try that. Best thing in the

world for a bad head. **

The old butler withdrew as softly as he had come
in, and Katrine took two or three sips from her
glass, while Artis tossed his off, and then, setting
it down, walked quickly to the door.

Katrine's eyes dilated, and, bending forward, she
listened, and then sprang up and glided quickly
across from the inner room to meet Artis half-way,
and be clasped in his arms.

" What have you done? " she cried.

" Nothing. "

" You have fastened the door. "

" Nonsense.

** I say you have! "

" Well, suppose I have. What then?

" You m&dman! Unfasten tbe door.'

»>

"Not I."

'* T tell you that you are mad," she cried, trying
to free herself. " Gerard, dear Gerard, be reason-
able."

She writhed herself free and ran and turned the

lOO THE DARK HOUSE.

bolt back. He followed to refasten it, but she
held him.

" Think of the consequences of our being found
locked in here. "

" Bah! no one will come now till after eleven,
and if they did I don't care. Look here," he cried,
clasping her to his breast again, " suppose this
Arabian Night sort of fortune were found, do you
think I am' blind? You would marry this Capel."

" Well? "

" I won't have it,'* he cried.

" Why not? " she whispered, and her creamy
arms clasped about his neck. ** We are so poor,
Gerard, and we must have money to live."

" Yes. but at that cost," he cried, passionately.

"Well, what then? Think! Over a million,
which you Should share. Gerard — dearest — you
will not be so foolish, when I am so near this
gigantic prize. Ke is my complete slave. I can
do with him just what I will."

" But — Kate — I believe you would

He did not achieve his sentence, but responded
passionately to her caresses till he felt her suddenly
grow rigid in his arms, and then one arm was
snatched from his neck, and, with her hand, she
struck him sharply across the face.

" How dare you! " she cried.

Gerard Artis let his hands fall to his side, and
Katrine darted to a tall figure in evening dress

THE PARTY BREAKS UP. l6l

4<

standing just inside the door, and flung herself at
his knees.

Save me ! " she half shrieked, " from the in-
suits of this man."

Paul Capel drew himself aside, and Katrine fell
prostrate on the thick carpet, as he gravely opened
the door.

The girl sprang to her feet and darted out of the
room, while Capel, after watching her for a moment
or two, closed the door, turned the bolt, and then
threw his crush hat upon a table, his black wrapper
over a chair, and tore off his white gloves, chang-
ing the ivory-handled malacca cane from hand to
hand as he did so.

" Home soon," said Artis, with a sneer, as he
slowly walked to the little table, poured out some
more brandy, and gulped it down.

"Yes," replied Capel, gravely. "Thank Heaven
t did come home soon. I came to spend an hour
alone with the woman I loved. "

" And you were forestalled," cried Artis. " Here,
what are you going to do ?

" Thrash a contemptible scoundrel within an inch
of his life," cried Capel ; and he made a grasp at
Artis's arm.

But the latter eluded him, bounded to the fire>
place, and picked up the bright poker.

" Keep off," he cried, "or Til murder you."
Cling ! Jingle /

»»

l62 THE DARK HOUSE.

He had struck the glass lustres of the great chan-
delier , and the fragments fell tinkling down.

Crack / A yell of pain ! A dull thud !

With a dexterous blow, Capel caught Artis's
right hand with the stout cane, numbing his nerves^
so that the poker fell. With a second blow, he
seemed to hamstring his adversary, who staggered,
and would have fallen, but for Capel's hand grasp-
ing him by the collar ; and then, for two or three
minutee, there was a hail of blows falling, and a
terrible struggle going on. The light chairs were
kicked aside, a table overturned, a vase and several
ornaments swept from a cheffonier, and suppressed
cries, panting noises and blows, filled the gloomy

room, till, after one final stroke with the cane,
Capel dashed the helpless, quivering man to the
floor, and placed his foot upon his breast.

An hour later, when Preenham went up from a
confidential talk with his fellow-servants to admit
Mr. Girtleand Lydia — back from the theatre — he
found the front door open. Had he been half an
hour sooner, he would have seen Katrine, fully
dressed, supporting Artis down the dark stairs, and
out into the darkness of the great square, where
they w^re seen by the light of one of the street
lamps to enter a cab, and then they passed out of
sight.

Preenham saw nothing, and Mr. Girtle and
Lydia ascended to the drawing-room, the latter

THE PARTY BREAKS UP. 16$

feeling Mght-hearted and happy, in spite of the
eveni/'ig's disappointment.

The old lawyer uttered a cry of dismay, as he
saw the wreck, and that Capel was seated in a
low chair, bent down, with his face buried in his
hands.

" My dear boy! What is it?" he cried, as
^^ydia ran to his side, and her soft hand was laid
or his.

" Don't touch me, woman," he almost yelled, as
he sprang from his chair. " Oh," he said, softly,
"it is you?"

He took and kissed her hand, and then left the
room.

" Preenham, what does this mean?" cried Mr,
Girtle, as the butler brought in lights; and they
learned the truth.

CHAPTER XXX.

WHERE THE TREASURE LAY.

IX months elapsed before Mr. Linnett put intr
execution the project he had had in his mind
that night when he playfully tried the handcuffs
on his wrists.

He had meant business, as he termed it, the
next morning, but on presenting himself at the
chief office, ane of his superiors sent for him, and
announced an important task.

" Extradition, eh, sir.'* America?"

"Yes. Cross at once; put yourself xn com-
munication with the New York police, and then
spare no expense. He must be found."

€t

When shall I start, sir?"

« Now. "

Mr. Linnett did start now, saying to himself a&
he entered a carriage for Liverpool:

" Well, they didn't set me the job. It was my
own doing, and the news will keep."

So it Ccime about that one morning, when he
presented himself at the Dark House, he was
saluted by Mr. Preenham with:

"Why, how do you do? We thought we*d
quite lost you, Mr. Linnett, sir. You look quite
brown."

" IVe been pretty well all over America since I

164

jy

Wl^ERE THE TREASURE LAY. 165

saw you, Mr. Preenham, and now, sir, just go and
give them my card and say I want to see them on
very particular business.

" Have you found out anything, Mr. Linnett? "
" You wait a bit, my dear sir. Just take up the
card.

Mr. Girtle was in the library with Paul Capel at
the time, for the old man had settled down there,
treating the younger as if he were a son. He had
talked several times of going, but Capel begged
him not to leave, and he always stayed.
" Well, Preenham, for me? "

" He said you and master, sir — the gentleman."
" Ah! Linnett. The detective. Will you see

him?"

No," said Capel, sternly. " I don*t want that

((

affair opened again. "
" But my dear boy

})

" There; very well. Show him up."

The detective came in, smiling, but only to en-
counter a stern look in return.

" I've called, gentlemen, about that little matter
of the notes and jewels that were lost.

" My good fellow," said Capel, angrily, " I will
not have that matter taken up again. It is dead.

" Well, sir, the fact is, you wouldn't let me take
it up; but I did it on my own account."

" You did ? " said Mr. Girtle.
Yes, sir; it took me months piecing together, as
I had to do it all from the outside, without seeing

jj

a

tl«

THE DARK HOUSE.

the place. I was sent abroad, and have only just
come back.' Last night, however, I took out my
notes and went into it again, and I think I can say
I've found the treasure."

" Found it, man? " cried Capel, interested in spite
of himself. " Where? The place was thoroughly
well searched. "

*' Oh! yes, sir, of course.'*

" Then you know who took it?

jt

"Yes, sir; that's it."

" Who was it, then? "

" Ah! come, sir, that's better."

" Yes, yes, go on," cried Capel excitedly, and at
that moment it was not the treasure that filled his
eyes, but the figure of a sweet, gentle girl, who had
watched beside his sick bed.

" Well, the fact is, gentlemen, I very soon came
to the conclusion that the great treasure had not
been stolen."

"Why? "said Mr. Girtle.

" No notes were put in circulation that I could
find — old notes — and no valuable jewels sold."

" To be sure, yes, "said Mr. Girtle. " My idea."

" That wasn't worth much, gentlemen ; but I felt
sure from the beginning that the treasure was
taken by someone on the premises.

" Not that couple, I'll swear." said Mr. Girtle.

" Nor the servants," said Capel.

" There, sir, it's all in a nutshell," said Linnett,
Jiesitating.

yy

WHERE THE TREASURE LAY, 167

" Stop !" said Mr. Girtle. " What terms do you

yy

jt

propose for this information ?

" Oh, sir, I wasn't hesitating about that, but
because I don't like letting it go now IVe found it.
It was so much trouble to find the clue, I hardly
like parting with it. But here" you are, sir, and if
I may make terms, I may say Vm only a few
pou.nds out of pocket — ten will cover it — but I
should like it if Mr. Capel here would give me that
Indian knife, that koorkree. IVe^a fancy for saving
up that sort of article.

"Take the horrible thing and welcome," said
Capel impatiently.

"Well, gentlemen, I pieced together all that
was published, with Doctor Heston's notions, the
servants' knowledge, and my own ideas. V

" Well ?"

" Well, gentlemen, it was that old Indian servant
who took the treasure."

"Impossible!"

" Not a bit. He had the keys — he knew how
to use them. "

" He was as honest as the day," cried Mr. Girtle.
Exactly, sir, that*s just it. Honesty made him
take it

((

»i

" Absurd V said Capel.

" Not a bit, sir, excuse me. He knew that
fellow Pillar, the footman, meant it. You know he
had a fight with him at the door."

* Well, granted," said Capel.

36S THE DARK HOUSE.

" He watched, sir, night and day, and wouldn't
ieave the place, and at last, when "

" I know," said Capel, " those Italians. "

" Now, you shouldn*t take away people's char-
acter, sir," said the detective reproachfully. "It
was that Indian. He wasn't satisfied that the
secret place was safe. He was sure it would be
broken open, and so that night, or the one before,
he took the treasure out, and put it where he felt
certain that no one would look fov it. "

" And where was that ?" cried Capel.

The detective smiled.

" As I said, gentlemen, where no one would look
for it."

"And that was?"

" In the dead man's own charge, sirs. In the

j>

(f

coffin.

Capel and Mr. Girtle sank back in their chairs.
And if you open that vault, gentlemen, and
the iron tomb, and the steel chest, youll find it
safe and sound.

" There's one more thing, sir, I should like to say,
and that is about that old Indian servant He was
struck down, no doubt, or fainted after he had
killed the footman, defending the treasure. I can't
quite say what happened then, but it looks to me
as if some one came upon the old fellow when he
was lying helpless — some one who also meant to
steal that treasure — and that he, or she, ot who-
ev.er it was, chloroformed the old man to death. I

WHERE THE TREASURE LAY. 169

had it on the doctor's authority that he did not
die of his wounds ; but this is only theory. I
can't say. "

It was a theory that sent a chill through Paul
Capel, and he dared not put his thoughts about the
fair Creole into shape.

All proved about the treasure precisely as Mr.
Linnett had said, for when, with much compunc-
tion, the various caskets were opened once again,
there lay the two cases beneath the cloth-of-gold
robe, safely in the keeping of ^the dead man,
whereat, and for other reasons, Mr. Linnett much
rejoiced.

Later on, old Mr. Girtle had his wish, that of

giving Lydia away to the man she loved — one
who often afterwards told her he wondered how
he could have been so blind — blind, he said, as
the old place, which was kept, in accordance with
the Colonel's last commands, closed in front, but
bright and gay behind, while Paul Capel used to
say, " It is astonishing how much human sunshine
::an be got into a Dark House. "

THE END.